· aat advancing afghan trade acci afghanistan chamber of commerce and investment acd afghanistan...

ADVANCING AFGHAN TRADE EU TRADE-RELATED ASSISTANCE

FOURTH PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 01 July 2019 - 31 March 2020

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CONTENTS

Context of the Action ................................................................................................................................ 5

Executive Summary of the Action ............................................................................................................. 6

Actual Results ......................................................................................................................................... 16

Activities carried out during the reporting period ..................................................................................... 30

Difficulties encountered and measures taken ......................................................................................... 73

Implementation of the Visibility and Communication Plan ...................................................................... 75

Request for payment .............................................................................................................................. 78

ANNEX I: MEDIA REPORT: 1 JULY 2019 – 31 MARCH 2020 .............................................................. 78

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS USED AAT Advancing Afghan Trade ACCI Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment ACD Afghanistan Customs Department ACE Afghanistan Center of Excellence AICF Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility ANPDF Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework ANSA Afghanistan National Standards Agency ANTP Afghanistan National Trade Policy ATAR Afghanistan Trade and Revenue AWBF Afghan Women's Business Federation AWCCI Afghan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry BMZ Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) CBM Curriculum-based measurement CEO Chief Executive Office CWS Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade DFID Department for International Development DG Director General DM Deputy Minister EPB Export Promotion Board EU European Union EUD European Delegation To Afghanistan FAO Food and Agriculture Organization GIRoA Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan GIZ Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Development Agency) HEC High Economic Council ICC Afghanistan International Chamber of Commerce IIFT Indian Institute of Foreign Trade IMCTF Inter-Ministerial Commission on Trade Facilitation IMCWTF Inter-Ministerial Committee on WTO and TF ISO International Organization for Standardization IT Information Technology ITC International Trade Center LEAD Leading Entrepreneurs of Afghanistan for Development MAIL Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock MoIC Ministry of Industry and Commerce MoPH Ministry of Public Health, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan NTFC National Trade Facilitation Committee NES National Export Strategy NFF Note For File NNA National News Agency NTFC National Trade Facilitation Committee PPD Public Private Dialogue PPDP Public-Private Development Partnership PPT PowerPoint Presentation RECCA Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan SEEN Start-ups and Emerging Entrepreneurs Network

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SIMT Strategy Implementation Management Tool SME Small and medium-sized enterprises SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary TBT Technical Barriers to Trade TF Trade Facilitation TFA Trade Facilitation Agreement TSI Trade Support Institutions UNAMA United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNCTAD United Nations Conference of Trade and Development USAID United States Agency for International Development USD US Dollar VC Video Conference WTO World Trade Organization

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CONTEXT OF THE ACTION

Name of beneficiary of Delegation Agreement: International Trade Centre (ITC)

Title of Action: Trade-Related Assistance for Afghanistan

EC CRIS Number: ACA/2016/376-500

Start and end date of reporting period: 1 July 2019 – 31 March 2020

Background The Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) recognises international trade as an important driver of growth, for which it has prioritized trade, transit, and regional cooperation as critical elements in its economic development strategy. It is committed to trade reforms aimed at unlocking the potential of the country's export sector, which is evident from recent initiatives undertaken by the country such as accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ratification of WTO TFA. However, this changing trade environment requires solid understanding of trade issues, design and implementation of legislative reforms and their enforcement through institutionalized mechanisms.

The project, funded by the European Union (EU), worth EUR 4 550 000, will assist the GIRoA in improving the conditions to use trade as a lever for confidence building, enhanced regional cooperation, economic and human development and poverty reduction. It aims to strengthen human and institutional capacity on trade policy and strategy formulation and implementation with the active engagement of the private sector. The project, which is in line with Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF) 2017 - 2021, started in August 2016 and will run until March 2020.

The project takes into account the country-specific needs of Afghanistan related to enhanced regional trade cooperation, particularly taking into account the focus of both the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) and the Heart of Asia Process on positioning Afghanistan as a regional trade hub in Central Asia and promoting enhanced regional cooperation.

The project is being executed under the Asia Regional Multiannual Indicative Programme 2014-2020. In line with the Agenda for Change, EU regional programmes aim at supporting a broad-based process of dialogue and collaboration between Central Asian countries, promoting an environment conducive to a non-confrontational approach within the region, notably in areas sensitive to overall political and social instability.

Project partners and beneficiaries The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) is in charge of trade policy formulation/trade negotiations in Afghanistan and is the main counterpart and beneficiary of this project. National institutions and agencies such as the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), Afghanistan National Standards Authority (ANSA), Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), sectoral trade and investment support organizations, universities and research institutions, the private sector and non-governmental partners also contribute to and benefit from various project activities.

Project objectives The foreseen impact is “enhanced trade and regional integration of Afghanistan as a lever for confidence building, economic and human development and poverty reduction.” It is through strengthening institutional capacity to formulate and implement effective trade policies and strategies with a special focus on regional cooperation, engaging private sector to participate in trade policy reforms and dialogue, and building sustainable mechanisms to invest in human capital and to ensure local ownership, that this is being advanced.

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Results expected from the project National Export Strategy (NES) design • The GIRoA owns a NES and action plan that was developed in a consultative process with the private

sector and has started its implementation. • The NES analyses the country’s needs, constraints and opportunities (especially in the regional markets)

to provide a well-articulated roadmap to strengthen Afghanistan’s supply and export capacities, implement trade reforms, identify regional partners and potential investment opportunities and address Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs’) knowledge of cross-border procedures.

• The NES implementation commences with a focus on quality management, Sanitary and Phytosanitary

(SPS) measures and regional regulatory cooperation: • National public and private stakeholders are enabled to manage and coordinate the implementation of the

NES and mobilize support to implement the validated roadmaps.

• Priority interventions identified during the NES design process are implemented to improve regional integration and international trade competitiveness.

Trade Policy and Facilitation • Capacity building on trade policy: Knowledge-sharing mechanisms for Afghan policymakers on trade policy

and negotiation formulation and implementation are established in partnership with a training institute from the region. Ove 50 national policymakers will be trained.

• National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) strengthening: Institutional mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of the TFA are operationalized and trained and linked with regional partners.

• SME Training: Knowledge of SMEs on how to manage cross-border procedures and compliance with regional and/or global market requirements is built (building on NES findings to include priority markets).

• Consultation process: Public-private consultation processes on most pressing trade, regulatory or negotiation issues (domestic or regional) are strengthened.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE ACTION

Coordination mechanism for NES implementation and oversight in operation

The implementation of the comprehensive National Export Strategy (NES) of Afghanistan requires leadership and coordination of various actions in order to achieve the targets under the strategy. To ensure its success, it is necessary to create the adequate environment and framework to enable its implementation.

To this end, AAT has provided assistance to the Export Promotion Directorate (EPD) to fulfil its role as the NES Secretariat through tailored capacity-building, advisory support and specialized tools for implementation management techniques. The technical assistance support for project partners has continued during the fourth year of the project through a tailored training to selected EPD staff on implementation management techniques, including the use of the SIMT (July, 2019). As a result, EPD has undertaken responsibilities and implemented activities on matters related to this role, such as coordinating with implementing institutions and development partners on NES implementation.

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Moreover, AAT has continued providing technical and advisory support to enable MoIC-EPD to lead the discussions on the establishment and formalization of the NES governance structures and the NES Secretariat. Thereby, MoIC has organized two NES Senior Coordination Board Meetings (October, 2019 and February, 2020). During the first meeting, the Senior Coordination Board reconfirmed MoIC-EPD as the NES Secretariat. Further, the Board discussed on the structure, roles and responsibilities of the NES board and revised and approved its terms of reference, as advised by AAT. During the second board meeting, there was a significant private sector representation and the board served also as a platform to raise key issues affecting trade competitiveness in the country. In parallel, there have been sector-level committee meetings, e.g. Marble and Granite.

Achievements:

• An adequate governance structure to build collaboration and coordination between national and sectoral public and private implementing institutions is defined and operationalized.

• Empowered national stakeholders capable of contributing to NES implementation. • An interactive strategy management system to effectively monitor progress, assess impact, identify gaps

and duplications, and measure results, Strategy Implementation Management Tool (SMIT, is set up and operational.

• Coordination among international development agencies is fostered through the NES Senior Coordination Board (e.g. the Board was also transferred the responsibility of implementing the EIF initiative so as to ensure alignment with the NES).

Key NES priority interventions implemented Improvements in quality management The technical assistance support for project partners and stakeholders has continued during the fourth year of the project in the area of standardization, testing, certification, metrology and food safety. A number of trainings were provided to stakeholders such as on food safety management system (ISO 22000:2018) and on auditing management systems (ISO 19011:2018) to prepare the Afghanistan National Standards Authority (ANSA) staff and other officials and private sector representatives to increase awareness and preparedness to comply with those standards. Awareness was built on various technical topics, including the benefits of metrology in trade which has received a positive feedback from participants to workshops in both Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.

In the area of metrology and calibration, close monitoring of progress has been done in regards to a proposed new law on legal metrology, an initiative supported by the AAT project. Following its drafting and finalizing in English and Dari Language, the law was approved by the law committee. Discussions within Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice are taking place; it is expected that the President of Afghanistan will endorse the law in the first half of the year of 2020.

Additionally, metrology equipment has been purchased and delivered to ANSA metrology department to strengthen the services offered in the country. Further, distance support by a technician from the equipment provider has been delivered in order to ensure know-how for use of the equipment.

Further support was provided to laboratories that are involved in testing Saffron and also fresh and dried fruits products for export. The laboratories were identified, the laboratory assessment conducted, training on ISO/IEC 17025 standard conducted on the requirements to operate competently and a roadmap for strengthening the labs developed.

Follow up was also done on the Draft National Quality Policy, developed in consultation with ANSA and various stakeholders. AAT aims to provide a further platform for discussion between ANSA and MoIC to ensure consensus on inputs and finalization of the document for further endorsement by the cabinet.

In the area of food safety, the Concept Note and the Roadmap on the Establishment of Food Safety Control System were further circulated to the stakeholders previously interviewed for their comments and other development partners (such as UNIDO) for further consideration in the continuation of the project. The road

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map was confirmed to give a number of recommendations that constitute a good foundation for setting priorities. Meanwhile progress were made at the cabinet level where decision to establish a Food Safety Authority under the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) was taken. Comments from various stakeholders on the road map for strengthening the food safety control system were compiled in January 2020 and priority areas further identified, as well as suggested actions to be undertaken in the upcoming years.

In the area of packaging, the material of the training conducted was translated in local language and disseminated.

Achievements: • Knowledge and competence of the staff and services in the area of quality related to metrology and

calibration, testing and certification on ISO 22000 are further strengthened and disseminated to stakeholders.

Buy from Afghanistan marketing campaign initiated

AAT received a specific request from MoIC to initiate the development of a “Buy from Afghanistan” marketing campaign. This campaign would contribute to the effective implementation of the NES and be a vehicle to assist MOIC to achieve the objectives of its National Export Plan. Accordingly, the AAT project provided international expertise in marketing and branding to develop the initiative in collaboration with local stakeholders (which included a week-long mission to Kabul). The intervention aimed at developing the prerequisites for the marketing campaign which consisted of (i) the development of an overarching Afghanistan Brand Value Proposition (BVP) - supporting the NES business and economic objectives and a ‘Creative Idea’; and (ii) fostering a stakeholders agreement on brand positioning and understanding of the implications for the next steps to translate this into communications and eventually a promotional campaign.

Achievements:

• Afghanistan has initiated the development of a locally driven and endorsed “Buy from Afghanistan” marketing campaign with clear next steps in developing the brand.

Increased knowhow in the area of access to finance for Afghan SMEs in the saffron sector In line with the priorities identified throughout the design of Afghanistan’s NES, the AAT has been facilitating the access to finance by providing advisory services to 15 SMEs of the Afghan National Saffron Union Growers (ANSGU) active in the Saffron value chain.

During the period, the AAT facilitated two workshops; one in December, 2019, and a second one in February 2020. This has been done through the support of four selected and trained Financial Management Counsellors (FMCs) experts who helped the SMEs strengthen their business operations as well as their financial literacy, business and marketing.

Achievements: • 15 Saffron companies have been able to develop business plans and financial diagnosis for the first time

and were also introduced to new sources of financing such as green finance and alternative sources of Islamic finance. The project enabled the connecting of ANSGU and the SMEs with multiple local financial institutions to discuss the lending instruments that can benefit the SMEs

Support to “Start-ups and Emerging Entrepreneurs Network” (SEEN) and “young agripreneurship” in the saffron sector The overall objective of this intervention is to build the institutional capacity of the SEEN that has been created two years ago while supporting young agripreneurship in the saffron sector (in line with the NES recommendations). Afghan youth are increasingly engaged in productive entrepreneurship but not

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necessarily agro-based ones. This is also reflected in business development services offered by several initiatives that are quite often Kabul based and around ICT and consulting services.

In this context SEEN plays an important role of business enabler for younger generations and develop a niche portfolio of products and services in the agro-sector with a specific focus on saffron in Herat region. SEEN has organized a five-day entrepreneurship management training for 30 young entrepreneurs in Herat to develop their entrepreneurial skills by a trainer/consultant.

Achievements:

• Participants learned how to start a business in saffron sector. They became able to evaluate a business idea, perform market research, develop their basic marketing plan, staff plan, management plan, financial plan, perform costing, and adjust their business process to save the environment.

Support to AWCCI

Under the NES, women are recognized as a population cohort requiring targeted and tailored support. Accordingly, specific activities focused on facilitating the integration and positioning of Afghan women into trade-related activities are explicitly included under the NES.

To further support this NES identified need, in mid-2018 following the adoption of the NES, AAT commenced a mid-project initiative to contribute to the path forward for enabling women to greater prosper from trade in their country. Given the projects limited funding and time available, it was considered necessary to target only specific interventions of the NES. The interventions under this sub-output therefore focussed on the need strengthen the capacity of AWCCI, as a mechanism to support the continued development of women’s' participation in the economy and foster country's exports. Moreover, AAT seeks to increase AWCCI's ability and competence, in light of its important role as an implementing agency of NES' activities.

During the reporting period support was provided to develop an operational document – titled “AWCCI – A Review of Objectives, Activities, and Future Plans”. The process of developing the strategic document enabled the association to define main programmatic areas and their objectives – which were as follows: research (academic and policy related); sales support and Investment support, and advocacy and raising awareness. The document has also enabled AWCCI to communicate this information to external parties in a clear and concise way.

Upon the request of AWCCI, AAT also strengthened the AWCCI’s capacity to provide self-help learning materials to its membership, by providing and translating into Dari and Pashtu the following ITC SME Trade Academy E-learning courses: Considering Export Markets; Setting up an Export Marketing Strategy; Export Sales and Negotiation; Using Virtual Marketplaces for your E-commerce Initiative, and; Creating Quality E-commerce Content. These courses have been successful in strengthening participant expertise in the subject matter in other country contexts and it is anticipated it will do likewise in Afghanistan.

Finally, AAT provided advisory services to AWCCI on how to create a sustainable business model for the association.

Achievements:

• Development of operational document –enabled the association to define main programmatic areas and their objective, and communicate effectively externally.

• AWCCI’s capacity to provide self-help E-learning materials to its membership in local languages has been enhanced.

WTO/Trade policy learning – continuity of initiative built at Kabul University This intervention was mainly completed under years 1 to 3 of the project.

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In the final period, as per the third Project Steering Committee’s decision, Kabul University was supported to develop a WTO reference centre at the premises. The centre is equipped with key books related to WTO agreements and further WTO / trade policy matters. A further WTO library subscription has been provided, which ensures full access to the online catalogue and latest publications. Finally, the centre is equipped with hardware items.

The centre ensures that WTO research and teaching are well resourced / equipped at the university. Additionally the centre will be of utility to further stakeholders, including MoIC.

Additionally, over the past three years, AAT supported the training of Kabul University lecturers (among other beneficiaries) on WTO matters through their participation to the 7-month long training implemented in partnership with the Centre for WTO Studies of India. Through this partnership, AAT also contributed in developing the first WTO related curriculum taught by the Kabul University.

During the reporting period, the first intake of over 130 year-four students in the faculty of economics completed the Kabul University course "Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade" that commenced in April, 2019. The course provides a comprehensive overview and a detailed understanding of various aspects relating to international trade. It covers topics from the economic, policy and legal perspectives. It is the first of its kind public university training on WTO in Afghanistan. The course ensured developing a great level of interest in WTO affairs among students, stimulated research (some students have opted for doing their dissertations in this field) and generated further research and human resource capacities for government in the future.

The course will run again this year in the eight semester for year four students, and will continue to be taught at Kabul University. It has been proposed this as part of the curriculum restructuring to the Ministry of High Education to make it a permanent fixture for all public universities. Once it has been approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, the course would roll out across all economics programmes in the public universities.

Achievements:

• Kabul’s University’s capacities built for delivering trainings and research on WTO/trade policy matters, with: 130 students already trained; research on WTO matters stimulated; opportunity for joint policy research/training projects between Kabul University and the government on WTO matters available.

Further know-how and awareness raised on WTO TFA and support for its implementation During the reporting period, building upon the categorization recommendations and the 10-year trade facilitation implementation plan developed in 2017 and 2018, AAT further supported the process of approval by the HEC of the national trade facilitation roadmap developed by the IMCWTF with the technical assistance of AAT notably by developing and sharing with MoIC a draft of the instrument for the official notification of implementation timelines to the WTO.

As a result of AAT’s support, Afghanistan is up to date with all notifications required under TFA WTO, increasing its compliance by notifying in February 2020 to the WTO Trade Facilitation Committee the implementation timelines for Category B measures and the technical assistance required for the implementation of the Category C TFA measures.

AAT further strengthened IMCWTF’s functioning and operationalisation by providing continuous advisory service to the IMCWTF secretariat notably to emphasise the role that MoIC plays in the operationalisation of the Committee.

In addition, during the reporting period, AAT supported the Afghanistan participation to the Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Economic Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on 20 and 21 November 2019. The event aimed at advancing high-level negotiations on bilateral and regional trade and transit agreement as well as a regional strategy on trade facilitation. The Forum was also an

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important platform to present the Trade Facilitation Portal initiative (see Output 6) and discuss possibilities for establishing a regional Central Asia portal and include Afghanistan portal in this regional platform.

Achievements:

• Afghanistan participation to SPECA Economic Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on 20 and 21 November 2019 reinforced advancing high-level negotiations on bilateral and regional trade and transit agreement as well as a regional strategy on trade facilitation.

• Afghanistan is up to date with all notifications required under TFA WTO. Support provided to build SME knowledge of how to manage national cross-border procedures and compliance with regional and/or global market requirements During the reporting period, building upon the achievements of AAT in establishing the Afghanistan National Trade Facilitation Portal as well as building national capabilities to operate and maintain the Portal beyond the project life, AAT further supported the finalisation of exports procedures into the Portal. To ensure maximum sustainability, AAT’s trade facilitation experts provided advisory services and coaching sessions to two AAT consultants as well as MoIC staff through on demand regular skype calls with ITC headquarters as well as responsible officers of the Tajikistan Trade Facilitation Portal as a regional best practices.

As a result of these substantial progress, AAT supported the organisation of the “soft launch” for the Portal” during an IMCWTF meeting on 23 February 2020 thereby presenting the progress made on the platform to all IMCWTF members. During the meeting, a high level participation from MoIC allowed to reinforce the recommendations already shared on the institutional anchorage of the Portal team within MoIC. Ministry’s participation along with AAT experts highlighted stakeholders’ responsibility into updating this platform beyond the scope of this project.

Secondly, following PriSEC’s request and in order to increase stakeholders awareness and compliance with cross border regulations, AAT provided assistance to sensitise Afghan economic operators on the aforementioned reforms through an intense communication campaign. This coordinated campaign included online media by sponsorship of PriSEC’s Facebook posts1, TV adds (16 TV spots on Tolo and Lemar TV in Dari and Pashto languages) as well as 37 billboards located in key locations in Kabul as well as provinces (6 in Kabul and 2 in each of the three provinces of Nangarhar, Balkh and Herat).

Finally, building upon the Export Management Guides developed, AAT further implemented an On-the-job SME Coaching Programme during the reporting period in order to build national capacity on Export Management for SMEs - in particular to women-led businesses. This initiative provided further On-the-job Coaching to 17 SMEs identified in the priority sectors covered in the NES.

Achievements:

• National stakeholders’ ability to operate and maintain the National Trade Facilitation Portal has been enhanced to ensure the sustainability of the initiative thereby ensuring compliance with the requirements of the WTO TFA.

• The National Trade Facilitation Portal was presented to Members of the IMCWTF during a meeting of IMCWTF aiming for the “soft launch” for the Portal.

• 17 additional SMEs have benefited from On-the-job coaching services delivered by local Export Management Coaches with strong impact on SMEs daily operations.

1 See In Dari https://www.facebook.com/Prisec.gov.af/videos/737145853441928/ and in Pashto https://www.facebook.com/Prisec.gov.af/videos/443303446347273/

https://www.facebook.com/Prisec.gov.af/videos/737145853441928/


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Endorsement of national trade policy marks key milestone Throughout the current reporting period, one of the main focus of the project has been to ensure the Afghanistan National Trade Policy (ANTP, 2019- 2023) was endorsed by the Cabinet after having gone through multiple consultations with the private and public sector. AAT proactively worked with MoIC to seek the policy document’s approval at the highest decision-making body of the government, which is the Cabinet chaired by President of Afghanistan. The Cabinet eventually approved the ANTP in principle on October 9, 2019, and recommended that the document be further aligned with the new priorities of the government including adjusting the targets to ensure they support the national export targets.

At the time of the launch of the ANTP on 11 February, 2020, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Ajmal Ahmady said: ‘This national trade policy takes centre stage in transforming the direction of the economy’s productive sectors toward producing and exporting high value-added products so that the country’s full export potential can be realized. The policy document outlines the key principles and strategies that will guide the Afghanistan’s strategic integration into global markets.’

The Government anticipates that the ANTP will support the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework – the country’s overarching policy strategy – and implementation of its WTO commitments, National Export Strategy, National Priority Programme on Private Sector Development, and national export targets.

After the ANTP was endorsed by the Cabinet, AAT provided advisory services to ensure the document was revised as per the recommendations of the Cabinet by going through details and amending the results framework where applicable. After mutual agreement on the content, a final draft was produced and reported back to the Cabinet.

Achievements:

• Afghanistan obtained its first trade policy. After close collaboration between AAT and MoIC, the ANTP document was endorsed by the Cabinet in October 2019.

• Cross-sectoral collaboration for the implementation of ANTP was fostered after the ANTP was launched to the public and private sector on 11 February, 2020. The stakeholders were sensitized about the key policy areas, objectives and implementation mechanism.

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan step up efforts to strengthen trade relations Another key progress was obtaining the government’s support regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the agreements signed during the bilateral PPDs with Uzbekistan. To ensure progress was captured, the issues monitoring tool was systematically updated and maintained.

In the final reporting year, the second PPD with Uzbekistan was held on 16 July 2019. The focus of the meeting was on addressing challenges in the areas of trade transit, infrastructure, procurement, and investment sectors. Particular focus was put on the systematic implementation of the MFN treatment and the reduction of transit fees for Afghan traders who export to and through Uzbekistan.

The meeting in Tashkent concluded with a declaration to further strengthen trade cooperation between the two countries. Among the intentions set out in the declaration were the reaffirmation to ensure the mutual implementation of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment and to scrutinize transit issues, transit costs and fees through the establishment of a dedicated working group. The declaration also establishes the need to conclude a trilateral transit agreement with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan; and to conclude a bilateral agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investment. A road map including a timeline on implementation of the agreed actions will be annexed to the official declaration.

Further follow-up from the meeting included a decision on reducing rail and transit fees (something discussed during the first PPD in June 2018) was finally made and an official MoU was signed in March 2020. According

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to this rail, transit fees are to be reduced by up to 50% and $500 charged as land transit via vehicle is to be waived.

Commenting on the PPD initiative at the time of the second PPD with Uzbekistan, Ajmal Ahmady, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, said: ‘Our trade mission to Tashkent confirmed the strong will of both nations to enhance relations in all spheres of economy. Sustained dialogue will help address challenges related to trade and transit, and the Public-Private Dialogue is the optimal platform to achieve this. I am certain that the different components of this meeting will strengthen the trade and economic ties between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.’

Achievements:

• Stakeholder support for bilateral trade consultation to enhance Afghanistan’s regional trade confirmed. • Second public-private dialogue between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan conducted in July 2019 to further

enhance bilateral trade relations and push for effective implementation of the decisions and commitments made during the previous years.

Project Coordination and Management The third Project Steering Committee meeting was held in Kabul on 23 July, 2019. AAT presented progress on all aspects of the project and responded to stakeholder inputs. The project workplan (1 July 2019 to 31 January 20202) was presented and approved.

A project office in Kabul was maintained to ensure the day-to-day coordination of project implementation. A local Project Coordinator and Project Administrative Associate coordinated and implemented the project locally supported by an ITC headquarters team based in Geneva.

During the reporting period two quarterly progress reports snapshots were carried out and shared with MoIC and EUD for their awareness and feedback. The reports provided a brief summary of progress made for each output during the past quarter; immediate next steps for the next quarter, and; a full summary of all media coverage received.

Additionally, four bi-weekly and 7 monthly3 progress reports were carried out and shared with MoIC for their awareness and feedback4. The reports provided progress on activities within the period, results achieved and areas needed for support / follow-up on MoIC and other stakeholders.

The project was promoted through extensive media coverage of key events/project milestones, including at the Public Private Dialogue between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan (July, 2019); Advancing Afghan Trade Project Third Steering Committee Meeting (July, 2019); Inauguration Ceremony of Metrology and Construction Materials Testing Laboratories of ANSA (July, 2019); Inter-Ministerial Committee Meeting on WTO-TFA Agreement (August, 2019); First Senior Board Meeting of NES (October 2019); Afghan Government endorsement of the National Trade Policy (October, 2019); Training on ISO/IE 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories (November, 2019); New Export Procedure Campaign (December, 2019 – February, 2020); Launching Ceremony of Afghanistan National Trade Policy 2019 – 2023 (February, 2020); Metrology Awareness Workshop in Herat/ Mazar-e-Sharif (February, 2020) PrISEC meetings, and WTO Reference Launch (March 2020) and Second NES Board Meeting ( February, 2020)

Three press releases were produced (two of them being joint with ITC/EU/MoIC) and disseminated widely in the region and globally to an extensive media contact list. The press releases were further published by

2 By the end of 2019, the project was further extended until 31 March 2020. 3 Upon the request of the Minister, reports were changed to being completed upon monthly basis rather than bi-weekly. 4 This initiative was commenced in May, 2019 upon the request of H.E. Mr Ajmal Ahmady, the newly appointed Minister of Industry and Commerce.

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different news sources and picked up by social media. Additionally three project quarterly newsletters were produced and disseminated to approximately 4,500 recipients – mainly Afghan based and also some from the region. The project was also covered widely through social media forums, including Facebook and Twitter, with coverage highlighting the work of the AAT project during the endorsement/launch of the Afghanistan National Trade Policy being the most extensive.

AAT continued efforts and advisory support to position the NES within the economic and social development framework of the country and within national development priorities. The main objective was to improve the efficiency of the implementation management framework and secure the level of support provided by country counterpart organizations to maintain the momentum and therefore influence the outcome of the process. As a result, NES implementation is now part of the national agenda and MoIC actively pursues this as one of their top priorities. In addition to that, the AAT supported the NES implementation mechanism, including the NES Senior Board, platform which has been established and operationalized by MoiC for fostering public-private dialogue and donor alignment and coordination for NES implementation.

AAT has been an active member of the PriSEC Executive Committee. By attending these meetings, AAT actively contributed to the development of the NPP PSD and contributed to other national documents. AAT particularly advised PriSEC secretariat on the 50/5 plan and ensured ANTP endorsement remained on the agenda of the government. In addition, AAT worked with PriSEC on designing and launching a public awareness campaign for the new export procedures. This campaign was successfully delivered over print and broadcast media.

AAT has been a regular member of the PriSEC Executive Committee over the last reporting period. Throughout these meetings, AAT has contributed with valuable input to the discussions and also further the objectives of the AAT project. For instance, in the PriSEC meeting of August 5, 2019 AAT contributed with inputs regarding the creation of NES Coordination Board, approval of ANTP by the cabinet and the progress regarding the Trade Facilitation Portal. Also, the AAT National Coordinator updated the forum on the next phase of the project. Likewise, In the PriSEC meeting of October 7, 2019 AAT updated the forum on the new export procedures media campaign that the project was supporting and updated the members on the progress made. In addition, AAT informed the members on the carpet sector strategy under NES and asked that any programme under 50/5 should be aligned with NES and build up on what is already there. Dr. Abdullah underscored the importance of NES and asked MoIC to jointly work with AAT and other stakeholders to see what progress has been made regarding the NES strategy on carpet and any further work should not repeat what has already been achieved under NES. He asked for serious coordination on implementing the recommendations from the NES carpet sector strategy to address the challenges that exist. Overall, in all the meetings which AAT was represented the PriSEC chairs appreciated the project’s work for the trade sector. PriSEC support was instrumental in the creation of NES Senior Board and the approval of ANTP by the cabinet of Afghanistan.

A note was prepared to justify and the extension of the project until 31 March, 2020, based upon a number of reasons the project coordination team had identified. Subsequently, discussions were held with both the EU and ITC senior management to further process the request.

Upon the request of the EU, the AAT project team and further ITC staff continued work on the design of an AAT second phase. This included final draft of “Description of Action”, according to EU requirements; consulting/gathering of inputs from local stakeholders, including, most significantly from project partners, MoIC; ITC mission to Kabul to advance product selection; internal collaboration within ITC house to ascertain required technical response; further collaborations (distance and in-person) with both EUD Afghanistan and local Afghanistan key stakeholders was undertaken; and carrying out of ITC internal project approval process. AAT local team worked closely with MoIC to ensure their priorities were reflected in the AAT Phase II Description of Action and a concept note was submitted by MOIC on this.

AAT fostered close relationships with other donors to ensure synergies in the context of the implementation of AAT Phase I and to avoid overlaps in the design of the next phase of the project. These interactions included

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working with donors such as World Bank (Including International Finance Corporation), USAID, Department for International Development (DFID), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), etc. as well as local stakeholders such as Ministry of Finance (MoF), Harakat, Afghanistan Public Policy Research Organization (APPRO), etc. This close coordination with other donors and local projects managing/implementing agencies ensured that AAT implementation attains maximum impact and future interventions are designed in a way that produces good results without overlapping with other donor interventions.

In addition, in this regard, AAT has been supporting MoIC in establishing a NES Coordination Mechanism mandated to ensure donor coordination among donors with a view to foster a coordinated and consistent support for the implementation of the NES. MoIC eventually managed to establish this mechanism which has also been given the responsibility to manage the EIF project. The NES Senior Board has so far held two meetings and it has gradually transformed into a permanent platform within MoIC to address NES and ANTP implementation, and serve as a platform to address private sector challenges. The Board is now a permanent fixture with quarterly meetings planned. In addition, the three sector committees under the NES Board regularly convene their monthly meetings.

AAT has been instrumental in fostering donor coordination through: - Providing advisory services to accompany the establishment of this NES coordination mechanism and

supporting EPD is sustaining this mechanism; - Equipping and training MoIC staff with the SIMT tool. One critical dimension of this tool is to monitor which

recommendations/sectors of the NES are being supported (or left out) by the donors. In order to feed the tool, donors need to provide input in relation to their past, current and future projects so that MoIC can map the priorities covered and those left out.

Synergies with the other EU funded and ITC implemented project in Afghanistan: the 'Ethical Lifestyle Initiative' (ELI) have been continued. Access to Finance related intervention under AAT were implemented for the benefit of Afghanistan National Saffron Growers Union’s (ANSGU) membership. In addition, the project has fostered synergy with ELI under the quality management; lab assessment mission in Kabul and Herat in November 2019 and ISO 17025 training where the ELI representative attended and later in ISO 2000 and ISO 19011 trainings which were conducted in Feb-March, 2020. In the later one ELI recommended their beneficiaries to avail the opportunity and attend the trainings. Synergies with this initiative have been further considered while drafting the Description of Action for AAT Phase II.

With respect to AAT Phase II, synergies are being explored with the other EU funded and ITC implemented project “Ready4 Trade Central Asia”.

A detailed management response was provided back to the EUD in Afghanistan regarding the Mid-Term Evaluation Report which had been completed on the AAT project. In addition, the AAT project team engaged in extensive collaboration with COWI – a consultancy firm tasked by the EUD for completing the Final Evaluation of the AAT project.

A final internal audit report produced by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services in relation to the AAT project was published.

An EU tasked verification mission was conducted in Geneva in November 2019 by the BDO accounting firm in order to audit the AAT project. The verifiers engaged with the AAT project team and ITC management. A draft report was produced mid-March 2020 and shared with ITC for its review. ITC’s responses are being prepared.

Project implementation in an uncertain and insecure environment like Afghanistan remained a key challenge and required working closely with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan. Being proactive, AAT team developed a systematic approach to work with UNDP on security matters.

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ACTUAL RESULTS

Objectives Project indicators Baseline

Target Actual Actual 01 Jul 2017 – 30 Jun 2018

Actual 01 July 2018 – 30 June 2019

Actual 01 July 2019 – 31 March 2020

Status Means of verification

16 Aug 2016 – 16 Aug 2019

16 Aug 2016 – 30 Jun 2017

On

track Some delay Delay

Impact: Enhanced trade and regional trade integration of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as a lever for confidence building, economic and human development and poverty reduction.

Increase in Afghanistan's international trade value and volume

0 0 0 0 0 0 To be assessed in end project report

Increase in Afghanistan's regional trade value and volume


Delivery of confidence building measures Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) included in the implementation plan of the Heart of Asia process (Dec 2013) for the six key CBM applied by the GIRoA


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Outcome: The Government formulates and implements better-informed trade policy and a strategic vision to support trade competitiveness within the region.

Number of decisions taken by the GIRoA to improve trade services for exporters and investors as a consequence of the project (project end)

0 10

10 5 4 Completed NES: 7 (Adoption of response paper; PriSEC endorsement; Council of Ministers endorsement; HEC endorsement, mechanism to manage the implementation of the NES; Donors identified synergies and alignment between ongoing and planned project interventions and NES activities and agreed on the need for a mechanism to improve donor coordination during the Donor Roundtable; convening of NES Senior Board meetings). ANTP: 3: decision by MoIC to table ANTP to PriSEC, endorsement by Council of Ministers and Cabinet). Trade facilitation: 4 (WTO TFA categorization notified to WTO; TFA prioritization endorsed by IMCWTF; development of a Trade information portal. TF roadmap endorsed by HEC). MoIC decision to hold PPD with Uzbekistan and send delegation to Termiz leading to signing of MoU (Official Minutes): 1 MoIC decision to hold second PPD with Uzbek leading to official agreed meeting points: 1 MoIC decision to hold PPD with Kazakhstan and send delegation to Astana leading to signing of MoU (Official Minutes): 1 National quality roadmap endorsed by HEC: 1

Number of TSI's improving their performance in relation to NES development, trade facilitation, and quality support

0 5

6 2 Completed

MoIC: Improved ability to coordinate, track and manage NES implementation (EPD); Enhanced ability to mainstream trade into national planning and policies; Ability to carry out National Trade Policy formulation through stakeholder consultation process and technical drafting & to inform its commitments on WTO TFA & execute stakeholder consultations with neighbouring countries to enhance trading relations (Interview with senior MoIC officials); Ability to sensitise on standardization; Ability to perform operations associated with response to TBT and SPS related enquiries and notifications; a1 ACCI: Ability to carry out export management training: 1

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ANSA. Ability to design National Quality Policy; Ability to perform metrology services; Ability to sensitise on standardization; Ability to perform operations associated with response to TBT and SPS related enquiries and notifications:1 ANSGU: Ability to perform trainings to SMEs on financial services: 1 AWCCI: Greater capacity to stimulate public and private dialogue supporting trade-related women economic empowerment; AWCCI to participant in global top-performing TSI event, improved trade learning materials: 1 MAIL. Ability to perform operations associated with response to TBT and SPS related enquiries and notifications: 1 SEEN: Ability to understand its associations readiness as a trade support institution and to provide training on entrepreneurs to member: 1 Kabul University: Ability to provide training and research on WTO/trade policy: 1

Number of policy and regulatory measures initiated by the GIRoA for improving the business environment for exporters and investors as a consequence of the project

0 5

4 11 1 Completed National Export Strategy: 1 Afghanistan National Trade Policy: 1 WTO TFA Categorized and TFA prioritization endorsed by IMCWTF; Notification of the implementation timelines and technical assistance as required per WTO TFA: 1 National Quality Policy initiated: 1 Draft law on metrology and two regulations on metrology: 3 MoIC’s successful negotiations for MFN status when trading with Uzbekistan (list of MFNs tariffs granted by Uzbekistan): 1 Proposal for an comprehensive (goods) FTA was tabled by Uzbekistan: 1

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Proposal by Uzbekistan to establish a special Frontier Trade Zone: 1 Negotiations for a car assembly investment project were triggered: 1 MoIC’s ongoing negotiations with Uzbekistan for transit fees.1 MoIC’s successful negotiations for market access preferences with Kazakhstan (Communication from MoIC):1 MoIC’s ongoing negotiations with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for a trilateral transit agreement (Agenda of PPD2 with Uzbekistan):1 Food Safety Authority Approval: 1 Draft roadmap on strengthening the food safety control system of Afghanistan: 1

Percentage of Afghan business stakeholders reporting satisfaction about trade policy and Public Private consultation process

0 20

100 0

All participants responded in evaluation positively to question on their views of overall quality of National Trade Policy Private Sector consultation event and first Afg/Kaz PPD

Output 1: GIRoA owns a NES and action plan that was developed in a consultative process with the private sector, and has started its implementation

Endorsed NES document, including individual sector and functional strategies, in place

0 1 0 1 Completed NES Concept note, NES response paper, NES final documents

Number of official GIRoA NES launch events jointly with private sector representatives of such entities as ACCI and Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA)

0 1 0 1 Completed Media press articles

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5 Main NES public-private sector stakeholders consultations are listed under Section 4 of this report. Among others, these comprise 11 consultations held as part of the Second NES consultation (national and sector-level consultations), 2 provincial-level consultations and other consultative meetings. 6 Note in the AAT quarterly report for June, 2019, the total number was reflected as 140. Confirming that this was a miscalculation. 7 Note: June, 2019 quarterly progress report did not account for this training, as it has only subsequently been realised that the distance training via Skype contributes to this indicator. 8 Y2 progress report updated from 16 to 23.

Number of public-private NES stakeholder consultations completed

0 20 8 145 Completed Missions and consultations’ documented reports

Number of participants to NES workshops

0 500 222 583 Completed Participants lists and consultation’s report

Number of female participants to NES workshops

0 140 18 1326 Completed Participants lists and consultation’s report

Number of research and advice provided in relation to the NES development

0 4 1 3 Completed NES Concept note, NES Response paper, Export Potentiel Index, Skill development strategy

Output 2: National public and private stakeholders are enabled to manage and coordinate the implementation of the NES and mobilise support to implement the validated roadmaps

High-level National Export Development Council, or similar, established.

0 1 0 0 1 Completed NES Senior Coordination Board established and meetings held

NES implementation management unit (secretariat) operationalized

0 1 0 0 1 Completed Correspondence with MoIC

Number of NES Implementation Management training's completed

0 4 0 3 17 3 Completed Training reports

Number of participants to NES Implementation Management trainings

0 40 0 238 2 13 Completed Training reports

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9 Implementation management trainings have a clear defined audience, i.e. NES Executive Secretariat staff (MoIC-EPD). There are a limited number of women staff working at EPD – two have been in leadership and one identified eligible staff - which is the main reason behind the unmet target of female participants. Efforts were made to include relevant women-led organizations – NES implementers, i.e. AWCCI. Three of their representatives were mobilized and participated in Implementation Management Training. 10 Note: this number is updated from June, 2019 quarterly progress report, as a more intensive search identified further inputs

Number of female participants to NES Implementation Management training

0 13 0 5 0 4 Target not met9 Training reports

Output 3. Priority interventions identified during the National Export Strategy design process are implemented to improve regional integration and international trade competitiveness

Number of priority initiatives in Quality and SPS areas approved

0 4 1 1 2 Completed

1. ANSA Workplan; 2. NES plan of action 3. Strategic Plan of ANSA; 4 Operational Plan of ANSA

Number of initiatives in Quality and SPS areas completed

0 4

1 310 1 Completed

Operationalisation of selected previously available equipment of ANSA lab metrology: 1 Guidebook: Red Gold Rush: Managing Quality for Afghan Saffron Exports (English): 1 Red Gold Rush at Glance (condensed version) (English and Dari): 2 Assessment of laboratories working in the saffron and the fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried): 1 Delivery of additional equipment on Metrology on Length calibration has been provided

Number of trainings delivered to identified institutions

0 4 1 8 16 9 Completed Participant lists and/or reports for: 1. Training workshop on code of good practices for development, adoption, and promotion of standards and related manual 2. Training workshop on development of technical regulations and related procedures 3. Contribution to the 5th National conference on saffron; market information and identification of buyer’s linkages 4. Training workshop on Development of technical regulations 5. Webinar on Strengthening the Standardization service of ANSA – ISOlutions 6. Three-week training on mass, volume, length and calibration of metrology for ANSA laboratory technicians 7. Awareness workshop on role and importance of standardization 8. 2-day workshop on WTO TBT and SPS Agreements 9. National Quality Policy (NQP) Stakeholder Consultation 10. Lead Auditor Course ISO 9001

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11. Training and Awareness Workshop on Standardization 12. Training on Legal metrology, Colombo 13. Training and coaching on metrology, Kabul 14. FSSAI Training on food safety in India 15. SPS and TBT training Workshops for NNA and NEPs and private sector 16. Workshop on Implementation of Standard Development and Promotion Procedure 17. ToT training for ANSA trainers for standardization awareness 18. Workshop on ISO 9001:2015 19. Workshop on implementation of Technical Regulation (TR) procedure for ANSA and Regulatory Bodies (RB) 20. Training on ISO 17021:2015 Conformity Assessment 21. Workshop on EU requirements for agro and agro-processed exporters 22. Training and coaching on metrology for ANSA metrology department 23. SEEN Institutional Readiness Roadmap Workshop 24. Training on financial services 25. Training on packaging 26. Two-day training on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory technicians and managers 27. Awareness Training on Metrology: No1 28. Awareness Training on Metrology: No2 29 & 30 Training on ISO 19011:2018 for ANSA staff and additional participants 31. Training/Workshop for FMCs on Access to finance 32. Workshop on Access to finance for SMEs 33. Start Your Business (SYB) Training for Young Saffron Sector Entrepreneurs 34. Inauguration of standards laboratory

Number of advisory services provided to implement the identified priority interventions

0 3

9 20 33 Completed 1.Law on legal Metrology (English and Dari) 2.Two metrology regulations (in English and Dari) 3.Celebration of World Standards Day 4.Policy document: National Quality Policy 5.ANSA Strategic Plan 6.Operational Plan (PoA) for ANSA Strategic Plan 7.Terms of Reference of TBT national committee 8.Terms of Reference of SPS national committee 9.SOPs for TBT National Enquiry Points (NEP) 10.SOPs for SPS NEP

23

11.SOP for TBT National Notification Authority (NNA) 12.SOP for SPS NNA 13.Concept Note on establishment of Food safety control system 14.Mission on development of a roadmap for strengthening the food safety control system 15.SOPs for metrology and supporting set of documents for calibration and verification of mass, length, volume, weighting instruments 16. Implementation of the procedure for development, adoption, promotion of standards and for development and enforcement of the TRs 17. Consultation mission to develop assessment of EPD for development of Readiness Roadmap 18. Assessment Report and Readiness Roadmap for EPD 19. EPD/ITC teleconference 20. For ANSGU to better support SMEs to access finance 21.Financial Management Counsellors (FMCs) are selected to coach SMEs to access finance 22. Training/coaching material on financial literacy and SME coaching is adapted to the Afghan context 23. SEEN official launching ceremony 24- 27: Document procedure for standards 28: B2B with lead Italian Saffron company 29: Follow up ongoing with ISO and ANSA to facilitate access to ISOlutions 30. Draft roadmap on strengthening the food safety control system of Afghanistan 31. Advice of selection/usage of metrology equipment 32. Presentation on Packaging for Saffron in Dari Language 33. Development of “Buy from Afghanistan” marketing campaign 34. FMCs to handhold and coach 15 SMEs to improve their business/financial operations 35 – 49. FMCS advice 15 SMEs to produce diagnosis reports and business plans 50-54 FMCs/SMEs supported to develop 15 business/investment profiles 55. Training/coaching material on financial management, Bookkeeping, Credit management, and green finance are developed and translated into Dari

24

56 - 58 Trainings/coaching modules on sustainable finance are developed for SMEs 59. Operational document –AWCCI – A Review of Objectives, Activities, and Future Plans 60 – 62. Provision of ITC SME Trade Academy E-learning courses, translated into Dari and Pashtu. (1 - Advise on selecting the courses; 2: developing the materials themselves; 3: how to display on AWCCI website and their usage) 63. How to create a sustainable business model for AWCCI

Output 4: Knowledge sharing mechanisms for GIRoA staff on trade policy/negotiation formulation and implementation are established in partnership with a training institute from the Region

Partnership with training institution from the region is established

0 1 1 Completed Press release, Contract between CWS and ITC

Number of training modules/material produced

0 7

10 Completed Materials all evidenced in: Afghanistan, “WTO and International Trade Programme”

Number of Afghan participants successfully passing trainers' assessment

0 40

20 20 122 Completed Regular assessment as part of “WTO and International Trade Programme”; Award of certificate of completion for 40 participants passing programme KU reported that 122 (4th year) students passed the WTO related exams in 2019

Number of Afghan participants (women) successfully passing trainers' assessment

0 10

3

2 32 Completed Regular assessment as part of “WTO and International Trade Programme”; Award of certificate of completion for women participants passing programme KU reported that 32 (4th year) female students passed the WTO related exams in 2019

Number of trainers and/or regional resource persons trained

0 2

2 2 Completed Regular assessment under “WTO and International Trade Programme”; Award of certificate of completion

25

11 Note: “meetings” are referred to as “trainings” here.

Number of meetings

2 7

7 1 Completed11 Meeting reports for the following trainings – 2 x introductory training; 6 x advanced trainings; 1 x ad hoc distance training; 2 x study tour; 2 x internships and additionally 1 x Kabul University programme (initiated); 1 x Inauguration of WTO Reference Centre

Output 5: Institutional mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of the TFA are established at national level and linked with regional partners

Recommendation for the establishment of a NTFC issued and endorsed by the MoIC

0

Indicator redundant. At the outset of the project the NTFC was already established therefore progress cannot be recorded on this indicator.

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Number of recommendations towards the implementation of the TFA issued and/or endorsed by the Government of Afghanistan”

3 1 3 5

1 Completed. Categorization recommendation endorsed by HEC and official categorization decision notified to the WTO (2016-2017): 1

Trade Facilitation Strategy (included as a chapter of the NES) developed and endorsed by the HEC (2017-2018): 1

TFA prioritization and sequencing recommendation validated by IMCWTF and HEC (2017-2019): 1

Recommendation on the alignment of the Customs Strategic Plan and the TFA implementation plan (2017-2018): 1

Recommendations towards alignment of IMCWTF and ACD plan approved by MoIC and ACD: 1

Recommendation on private sector needs and priorities for TFA implementation shared with the government of Afghanistan (2018-2019): 1

Recommendation on MoIC role in leading trade facilitation reforms in Afghanistan through the IMCWTF shared with the Government of Afghanistan (2018-2019): 1

Instrument for official TFA implementation timelines to the WTO drafted and shared with Government of Afghanistan (2018-2019): 1

Recommendation on IMCWTF and MOIC role in the governance of the Trade Facilitation Portal (2019): 1

Support to notification process of the implementation timelines and technical assistance: 1

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12 Updated recording figure (recorded as zero before) from first project report, as not factored for. These figures are as follows: 3 participants attended IMCWTF Member participation to first NTFC Forum in Geneva; and 1 MCWTF Member participated in Asia-Pacific Forum on Trade Facilitation 13 This means of verification is contributed under Output 6, as relevant for its attainment. 14 This means of verification is contributed under Output 6, as relevant for its attainment.

Number of public and private sector representatives stating increased awareness on the WTO TFA and trade facilitation reforms

0 100 152 131

100 Completed. Attendance sheet from events

Number of participants from public and private institutions to regional events in the area of trade facilitation (project end)

0 20 4 12

0 15 4 Completed List of participants for the following events: Participants to first International NTFC Forum in Geneva (2017): 3 Participant to Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum (2017): 1 Participants to regional trade facilitation portal workshop in Dushanbe (Nov. 2018, participants list available): 6 Participation to a regional SME Coaching workshop in Colombo (Dec. 2018, participants list available): 913 Participation to SPECA Economic Forum: 4

Number of female participants from public and private institutions to regional events in the area of trade facilitation

0 3 0 0 3 0 Completed. Women participation to regional trade facilitation portal workshop in Dushanbe (Nov. 2018, participants list available): 1 Women participation to a regional SME Coaching workshop in Colombo (Dec. 2018, participants list available): 214

Number of regional events in the area of trade facilitation

0 2 0 0 2 0 Completed. Reports of International NTFC Forum Asia Pacific TF forum Regional TF portal event Regional SME coaching event

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15 New indicator validated at PSC meeting on 23 July, 2019. 16 New indicator validated at PSC meeting on 23 July, 2019. 17 New indicator validated at PSC meeting on 23 July, 2019.

Output 6: SME knowledge of how to manage national cross-border procedures and compliance with regional and/or global market requirements is built encompassing priority markets (building on NES findings)

Number of private sector representatives who participated in the export management curriculum and pass knowledge tests

0 100 0 0 Due to continuous changes introduced in export formalities, the project could not develop an Export Management Curriculum properly reflecting trade formalities in Afghanistan. In this context and as discussed during the second Project Steering Committee meeting in July 2018, ITC has replaced the development and delivery of an export management curriculum by 2 other sets of interventions. 1) Establishment of a trade facilitation portal as per WTO TFA requirements and 2) delivery of on-the-job coaching services to SMEs. In this context, ITC suggests to replace this indicator with indicators that reflects more appropriately the project achievements. While the target proposed (i.e. 24 SME coached) appears lower than the initial target (i.e. 100 participants trained), it is important to note that the impact of on-the-job coaching services is stronger than classroom lectures. In addition, the project has exceeded its targets in the area of TFA related trainings (i.2. 400+ participants trained vs. 100 targeted)

Number of trade facilitation portal compliant with Article 1.2 of the TFA established 15

1 1 Completed. Portal established and launched Afghanistan.Tradeportal.org

Number of SMEs coached on export management practices16

0 24 0 0 7 17 Completed SME Coaching reports: 24

Trainers are trained 0 5 0 7 9 Completed Master trainers trained to deliver private sector workshops on WTO TFA; Export management coaches trained to deliver trainings on export procedures.

National Trade Facilitation procedure guide published including through Afghanistan National TF Portal)17

0 1 0 5 11 5 Completed Export Procedure Guides are available: 5 SME Coaching Manual is available: 1 Step-by-step export procedures are available in the Afghanistan National Trade Facilitation Portal: 10

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18 Note: Quarterly progress report had number of 81, however it has since been realised the number should be 59.

Output 7: Public-private consultation process on domestic/regional key pressing trade policy/regulatory/ negotiation issues is strengthened

Number of public-private dialogues/trainings held

0 8

3 5 4 Completed Meeting reports: 1 x Afghanistan National Trade Policy Consultative meeting (Nov, 2017); 1 x Pre-event stakeholder consultation for Afg – Uzbek event, May, 2018; 1 x Afg – Uzbek PPD (Jun, 2018); 1 x Afg – Kazak pre event meeting in Almaty preceding the PPD in Astana; 1 x Afg – Kazak PPD (August, 2018); 1 x International Trade Centre: Benefitting the Private Sector, (Nov, 2018); 1 x National Trade Policy Private Sector Consultation (Nov, 2018); 1 x Mazar PPD, (Jan, 2019); 2 x Afg / Uzb PPD and prep session; 1 x Consultation meeting between MoIC and Afghan Traders-; 1 x ANTP sensitization/launch

Number of policy research/material produced

0 8 1 5 7 1 Completed Completed materials: 1. ANTP (2019 -2023), 2. translated into Dari; 3. Policy recommendations study: Trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan: Issues and Options for Enhancement, 4 translated into Dari; 5. Policy recommendations study: Trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan: Issues and Options for Enhancement, translated into Dari 6; 7. Position paper: Trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan: Issues and Options for Enhancement, translated into Dari 8; 9. Position paper: Trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan: Issues and Options for Enhancement, translated into Dari 10; 11. Analysis: Potential economic implications for Afghanistan FTA with Uzbekistan; 12. Analysis Uzbekistan/Afghanistan Frontier Trade Zone implications; 13. Afghanistan MRA negotiation strategy concept note.

Number of recommendations stemming from PPD

0 10

22 3718 20 Completed 20 from ANTP (Policy area sub-sections); 39 from recommendations made at Afg-Uzbek bilateral PPD and Afg-Kazakh bilateral PPD and further follow-up; 17 from agreed minutes of second Uzb/Afg PPD; 3 from Consultation meeting between MOIC and Afghan traders.

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ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

OUTPUT 1: GIRoA owns a national export strategy and action plan that was developed in a consultative process with the private sector, and has started its implementation Completed OUTPUT 2: National public and private stakeholders are enabled to manage and coordinate the implementation of the NES and mobilise support to implement the validated roadmaps

During the first reporting period, key international development partners were fully apprised on all aspects of the NES design and implementation phases through an unprecedented Donor Coordination Meeting. Participating development partners of this meeting were United States Agency for International Development (USAID), EU, DFID, German Development Agency (GIZ), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNCTAD, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Donor Coordination Meeting was complemented by bilateral consultations and consensus was reached on the need to formalize the Donor Coordination Group.

High-level bilateral meetings (e.g. with MoIC and MAIL ministers, senior advisor to President, ANSA Director General (DG), ACCI’s CEO and Head of HEC Secretariat) were organized to sensitize key decision makers on the NES process and ensure that it serves the New Development Planning System as well as remains in line with parallel and related plans and policies.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the first year of the project:

− SIMT customization and deployment − Stakeholder mobilization

During the second reporting period, AAT pursued efforts and advisory support to position the strategy within the economic and social development framework of the country and within national development priorities. The main objective was to improve the efficiency of the implementation management framework and secure the level of support provided by country counterpart organisations to maintain the momentum and therefore influence the outcome of the process. To do so, AAT worked towards stimulating policy convergence and political cohesion around the NES so that the strategy becomes a rallying document for trade competitiveness.

Furthermore, selected MoIC-EPD staff received initial training on NES implementation planning, management techniques and resource mobilization. Moreover, advisory services were provided to assist the definition and operationalization of an adequate governance structure for NES implementation management and support mobilization.

Moreover, an interactive strategy management system –SIMT– was customized to the country’s needs. The SIMT serves as a tool to increase coordination, create reports and monitor the progress of implementation of NES’ plans of action activities. It also seeks to contribute to improving the synchronization and alignment of national policies and trade-related technical assistance. Key MoIC-EPD staff were introduced and capacitated in the operationalization of the tool.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the second and third years of the project:

− Advocacy, and assistance to position the NES within PriSEC's National Priority Program for Private Sector Development (PSD NPP)

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− Stakeholder and resource mobilization to position the NES within national development priorities to support implementation

− Communication and coordination with development partners to collect information on interventions contributing to NES implementation

− Initial sensitization and coaching of key institutions’ focal points on sectors’ PoA implementation − Advisory and technical services towards the definition of operationalization of governance structure for

NES implementation − Development and dissemination of training material on NES implementation management Training on

Management support to establish and operationalize an effective implementation management framework for NES implementation

− Customization and training on SIMT use to key officials − Human resources deployed and ready to assist EPD in NES implementation management - Technical assistance in resource identification and mobilization efforts - Dissemination of NES documents and communication material to sensitize key implementing institutions

and agencies. and allow for institutional operational planning - Preparation of the Institutional Strengthening Road Map for AWCCI. - Completion and delivery of the assessment report of AWCCI - Human resources available and ready to assist AWCCI’s advocacy and communications strategy

The following table details progress under the fourth year:

Activity Date/location Main Achievements Contributing to Indicator

Under Output 2: National public and private stakeholders are enabled to manage and coordinate the implementation of the NES and mobilise support to implement the validated roadmaps

Afghanistan NES: 2018-2022 – Implementation management workshop: NES into action

20-21 July 2019 Kabul

Number of NES Implementation Management training's completed: 1 Number of participants to NES Implementation Management trainings: 8 Number of female participants to NES Implementation Management trainings: 3

Human resources available and ready to assist EPD in NES implementation management

January - March 2020

EPD’s capacity was strengthened with the deployment of two staff focused on supporting EPD in NES implementation management. EPD organized the second Senior Board meeting and sector-level committee meetings.

Not applicable

32

First meeting of the NES Senior Board

30 October 2019 MoIC, Kabul

NES implementation highlighted as the key priority

MoIC’s export plan explained to the participants

Board members sensitized about NES implementation progress

NES implementation framework approved in principle

The following indicator under output 2 completed. High-level National Export Development Council, or similar, established.

Distance training – SIMT and implementation management

22 January 2020

Participants gained understanding on methods and tools for tracking and reporting NES implementation, with a special focus on the functionalities of the Strategy Implementation Management Tool


Second meeting of NES coordination board

19 February 2020 Progress update shared with the Board regarding the Sector Working Groups

Plead for engagement from line ministries on NES implementation and progress updates

The Board is acknowledged as a PPD platform to discuss private sector key issues.

Organization of the second meeting demonstrates leadership and commitment to NES implementation

The following indicator under output 2 completed. High-level National Export Development Council, or similar, established.

Distance training – SIMT (updating project information)

18 March 2020 Remotely

Participants gained understanding on specific steps to be followed when uploading information about projects

Number of NES Implementation Management training's completed: 1

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Title National Export Strategy of Afghanistan – Implementation management workshop: NES into action

Date/Location 20-21 July 2019/Kabul

Implementing partners EPD

Background/context The effective contribution of the NES to export development largely depends on the ability of Afghanistan to plan, mobilize resources, coordinate activities and monitor implementation.

In early 2019, EPD was reconfirmed as the NES Executive Secretariat. The ability of the NES Executive Secretariat need to be sufficient to ensure effective management of NES implementation. The Secretariat should have knowledge of tracking and monitoring frameworks, resource mobilization and programming, communication, advocacy, etc.

Accordingly, AAT organized a workshop intended for relevant MoIC-EPD staff to build their capacity on NES implementation management.

Results

The training has helped the participants to achieve the following results:

1. Increased awareness, knowledge and understanding of best practices of trade coordination mechanisms; role and responsibilities of EPD as the NES Secretariat;

2. Gain understanding on methods and tools for tracking and reporting NES implementation, with a special focus on the functionalities of the SMIT;

3. Familiarize to resource mobilization and communication techniques; 4. Obtain practical exposure of how to develop project proposals

based on the NES.

Stakeholder

/participant information

Workshop participants were mainly from EPD. Other participants included staff from PriSEC and AWCCI.

Participant evaluation Participant evaluation was positive.

Supporting documents Training material, list of participants and evaluation forms available

Contribution towards programmes indicator’s achievement


Title Human resources available and ready to assist EPD in NES implementation management

Date/Location January 2020 until March 2020

Implementing partners AAT-EPD

contributing to NES implementation using the SIMT.

Number of participants to NES Implementation Management trainings: 2

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Background/context The effective contribution of the NES to export development will largely depend on the ability of Afghanistan to plan, mobilize resources, coordinate activities and monitor implementation.

AAT’s intervention will continue to capacitate the NES Executive Secretariat i.e. MoIC-EPD so as to guarantee that initiatives implemented are aligned to NES priorities.

A competitive selection process was undertaken so as to engage a company to provide support to EPD on implementation management. The selected company was ACE, who deployed two consultants to support EPD in this regard.

Results EPD’s capacity was strengthened with the deployment of two staff focused on supporting EPD in NES implementation management.

EPD organized the second Senior Board meeting and sector-level committee meetings.


Not applicable

Title First meeting of the NES Senior Board

Date/Location 30 October 2019, MoIC, Kabul Implementing partners MoIC

Background/context The officially endorsed NES of Afghanistan (2018-2022) provides a robust conduit for the joint efforts of the Government, the private sector and its international development partners to increase competitiveness of the Afghan export sector. The NES is a blueprint designed to unleash the export potential of Afghanistan. It identifies and prioritizes concrete actions and investments to be undertaken on multiple fronts, by various types of institutions, private sector operators, and international partners, covering diverse sectors and trade support functions. The NES can be instrumental for advocacy, planning and coordination of Aid for Trade (AfT) initiatives in Afghanistan. It provides donors with an adequate framework, as well as favorable conditions for AfT implementation (i.e. political endorsement, private sector buy-in and improved collaboration with national institutions and international organizations).

In order to put in place an adequate environment and framework to enable implementation of the NES, and to be able to efficiently coordinate and plan AfT initiatives in general, it is essential that an Aid for Trade coordination mechanism is effectively setup under national leadership. This AfT coordination mechanism will ensure that existing development efforts do not occur in isolation and instead are effectively aligned and integrated within the national development planning and governance structures and systems. This is essential to avoid fragmentation and duplication of trade development efforts, otherwise leading to an overall low impact, and challenges in implementation.

The NES Senior Board was convened to capitalise on the significant momentum gained as part of the NES design process and leveraging it for smooth and efficient implementation.

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Results

NES implementation highlighted as the key priority: Minister Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Admal Ahmady, highlighted the implementation of NES as one of the key priorities of the Ministry in reducing trade deficit and generating economic growth.

MoIC’s export plan explained to the participants: MoIC’s export plans and the target of $2b exports by 2021 was explained to the participants and the role of NES and ANTP was highlighted in helping MoIC achieve its goals. NES was termed as a structured strategic document that will guide MoIC towards environed future.

Board members sensitized about NES implementation progress: Members of the senior board were sensitized about the NES implementation progress and the role of different organizations in the process was highlighted.

NES implementation framework approved in principle: The meeting concluded by discussing and approving the implementation framework and ToRs in principle. According to the decision, the NES Senior Board will meet each quarter, while the technical committees will meet on a monthly basis. The role of EPD as the secretariat was flagged and they were officially designed as the secretariat for the NES board.

Stakeholder


Total number of participants: 35 (including 10 from MoIC) and 2 female:

Key public institutions: MAIL, ANSA, MoIC, MoMP, MoPH, MoFA

Private sector associations: ACCI, ACIM, AWCCI, Carpet Producers and Exporters Association, Handicrafts association, Fresh Fruit Association, Federation of Afghanistan Craftsmen and Traders.

Development partners: EU, DFID, USAID (cancelled due to security issues)

Supporting documents

Meeting minutes produced in Dari language. Press coverage report: the meeting was covered by MoIC and Minister Ahmady’s social media accounts and a summary was provided there NES Presentation (Dari): A presentation was provided in Dari language regarding the NES implementation and the progress made thus far. NES Implementation Management ToR.


The following activity under Output 2 completed.

This activity contributes to: High-level National Export Development Council, or similar, established.

Title Distance training – SIMT and implementation management

Date/Location 22 January 2020, Remotely

Implementing partners EPD

Background/context The effective contribution of the NES to export development largely depends on the ability of Afghanistan to plan, mobilize resources, coordinate activities and monitor implementation.

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In early 2019, EPD was reconfirmed as the NES Executive Secretariat. The ability of the NES Executive Secretariat need to be sufficient to ensure effective management of NES implementation. The Secretariat should have knowledge of tracking and monitoring frameworks, resource mobilization and programming, communication, advocacy, etc.

Accordingly, AAT organized a Skype call intended for relevant MoIC-EPD staff to build their capacity on the SIMT and provide advisory support on NES implementation management.

Results

The distance training has helped the participants to achieve the following results:

- Gain understanding on methods and tools for tracking and reporting NES implementation, with a special focus on the functionalities of the SIMT.

Stakeholder


3 EPD staff, including 1 woman



Title Second NES Senior Coordination Board Meeting Date/Location 19 February 2020, Kabul Implementing partners MoIC Background/context EPD is effectively the NES Executive Secretariat. Under this role, EPD is

responsible for organizing the NES coordination structure, specifically the meetings of the Senior Coordination Board – which oversees NES implementation and sector-level committees. EPD organized the first Senior Coordination Board meeting in 20 October, 2019. During that meeting, the terms of reference, including roles and mandate of the NES Senior Coordination Board were discussed. In preparation for the organization of the second Senior Coordination Board meeting, AAT provided logistical assistance, as well as technical advisory support.

Results

The second Senior Coordination Board meeting was successfully organized by EPD.

Main discussions points included:

- The Board was updated on the progress made in the Sector Working Groups.

- The Board requested active engagement from line ministries and they were asked to continuously provide progress updates and seek funding for activities.

- The Board is considered to be useful public-private dialogue platform to discuss private sector key issues. As a result, MoIC has taken specific steps to address challenges raised during the meeting.

- The continuity of meetings of the Senior Board demonstrates leadership and commitment to NES implementation.

Stakeholder Number of participants: 39

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/participant information Key participants included line Ministries, e.g. MoIC, MAIL, Ministry of Women, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, private sector representatives, e.g. ACCI, ACIM, AWCCI and development partners, such as UNDP, UNIDO Harakat and AAT


High-level national export development council established (completed in October 2019 during the First NES Senior Coordination Board meeting)

Title Distance training – SIMT (updating project information) Date/Location 18 March 2020, Remotely Implementing partners EPD Background/context The effective contribution of the NES to export development largely depends

on the ability of Afghanistan to plan, mobilize resources, coordinate activities and monitor implementation. In early 2019, EPD was reconfirmed as the NES Executive Secretariat. The ability of the NES Executive Secretariat need to be sufficient to ensure effective management of NES implementation. The Secretariat should have knowledge of tracking and monitoring frameworks, resource mobilization and programming, communication, advocacy, etc. Accordingly, AAT organized a Skype call intended for relevant MoIC-EPD staff to build their capacity on the SIMT, with specific focus on uploading project information into the tool. Updated information will serve a better tracking and coordination of NES implementation.

Results The distance training has helped the participants to achieve the following results: - Gain understanding on specific steps to be followed when uploading

information about projects contributing to NES implementation using the SIMT.

Stakeholder /participant information

2 EPD staff


Number of NES Implementation Management training's completed: 1 Number of participants to NES Implementation Management trainings: 2

OUTPUT 3: Priority interventions identified during the NES design process are implemented to improve regional integration and international trade competitiveness Quality management (Output 3.1) During the first reporting period, in parallel to the design of the cross functional quality management under the NES, training and initial capacity building activities were kicked off. These activities focused mainly on sensitisation on TBT and SPS Agreements; preparation of training on standardization and technical regulations; approval of the ANSA’s AAT priority work plan; drafting of procedures related to standards and technical regulations.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the first year of the project.

First year:

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- 2-day workshop on WTO TBT and SPS Agreements - NES cross strategy on quality management and SPS adopted - ANSA Priority Plan

In the second year focus was on implementing selected priority activities identified with stakeholders: priorities were extracted from ANSA work plan and priorities “1” from the NES Quality Cross functional strategy agreed during the ongoing consultations with stakeholders.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the second year of the project.

Second year: - 2-day training workshop on code of good practices for development, adoption, and promotion of standards - 1-day Training workshop on development of technical regulations - Half-day Awareness workshop on role and importance of standardization for the private sector - Secondone-day training workshop on development of technical regulations - Procedure/Manual for development of technical regulations developed in English and Dari - Procedure for development, adoption, and promotion of standards developed in English and Dari - Contribution to the 5th National conference on saffron; market information and identification of buyer’s

linkages - Working Document - National Quality Policy of Afghanistan - Webinar on Strengthening the Standardization service of ANSA – ISOlutions - Three-week training on mass, volume, length and calibration of metrology for ANSA laboratory

technicians in India. Off-site follow training (via Skype) on metrology - Concept note on training programmes to strengthen National Notification Authority (NNA) and National

Enquiry Points (NEP) on TBT and SPS and first video training session - Concept note on the training for strengthening the food safety and food control with training programmes

designed in India.

In the third year the activities identified in the NES were further implemented through a series of workshops and trainings that took place in Afghanistan and abroad. Advisory services and capacity building was provided to various stakeholders on a number of topics requested by the country and defined by the work plan.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the third year of the project:

- Development of Law on Legal Metrology in consultation with ANSA and two regulations drafted - World Standards Day - National Quality Policy (NQP) Stakeholder Consultation - Policy document: NQP - ANSA Strategic Plan (2019-2023) and Operational plan (Plan of Action) - Terms of Reference of TBT national committee and Terms of Reference of SPS national committee - Development of the following:

o SOPs for TBT NEP; o SOPs for SPS NEP; o SOP for TBT National Notification Authority (NNA); o SOP for SPS NNA;

- Document: Procedure for development, adoption, promotion of standards and for development and enforcement of the TRs

- Guidebook: Red Gold Rush: Managing Quality for Afghan Saffron Exports - Lead Auditor Course ISO 9001 (5-day course and 2-day field visit) - Training and Awareness Workshop on Standardization - Training on Legal metrology - Food safety training and follow ups - SPS and TBT training Workshops for NNA and NEPs - Hands-on training and coaching on metrology - Awareness raising materials on AAT quality work

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- Workshop on Implementation of Standard Development and Promotion Procedure - ToT training for ANSA trainers for standardization awareness - Workshop on ISO 9001:2015 - Workshop on implementation of Technical Regulation (TR) procedure for ANSA and Regulatory Bodies

(RB) - Training on ISO 17021:2015 Conformity Assessment - Workshop on EU requirements for agro and agro-processed exporters - Study for packaging testing capacity building of laboratories in Saffron sector: a way forward to support

SMEs to comply with international market standards - Workshop: restitution of the study for ‘’packaging testing capacity building of laboratories in Saffron sector:

a way forward to support SMEs to comply with international market standards’’

In the fourth year, the activities identified in the NES were further implemented through a series of workshops and trainings that took place in Afghanistan. Advisory services and capacity building was provided to various stakeholders in the area of metrology, certification, testing and food safety as per the requests received from Afghan relevant stakeholders and as per the agreed work plan.


Activity

Date/Location Main Achievements Contributing to Indictor

Sub-output: 3.1: Quality management – with also a focus on the saffron sector as pilot to reach SMEs

Draft roadmap on strengthening the food safety control system of Afghanistan

2019

Kabul and off-site

Draft roadmap with suggested recommendations, actions to be undertaken, deliverables and time frame developed and provided to relevant stakeholders in Afghanistan for discussion and relevant comments compiled. Priority areas have been further identified, as well as suggested actions to be undertaken in the upcoming years.

Number of advisory services provided to implement the identified priority interventions: 1

Mission on Assessment of laboratories working in the saffron and the fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried) sectors

10-21 November 2019 Kabul and Herat

Assessment of the capacity and needs of the testing laboratories for saffron, fruits vegetables (fresh and dried) according to requirements of the EU and international standards conducted;

Roadmap for laboratories developed

Number of initiatives in quality and SPS areas completed: 1

Two-day training on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory technicians and managers

18-19 November 2019 Kabul

Increased awareness of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017;

Improved understanding on the role of the standard for laboratories to demonstrate capability and competence in the overall conformity assessment framework;

Number of trainings delivered to identified institutions: 1

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Improved understanding on the purpose and function of internal and external audits within a laboratory management system.

Awareness Training on Metrology: No1

16 February 2020 Herat

Built capacity of ANSA to conduct training on metrology

Basic knowledge on metrology among the public and privates sector built

Awareness on Legal Metrology among the public and privates sector increased

Number of trainings delivered to identified institutions:1

Awareness Training on Metrology: No2

19 February 2020 Mazar – e – Sharif

Basic knowledge on metrology among the public and privates sector built

Awareness on Legal Metrology among the public and privates sector increased


Training on ISO 22000:2018 for ANSA staff and additional participants

23 Feb – 4 March 2020 Kabul

Increased the knowledge on overall Food Safety Management System and specifically on ISO 22000:2018. The participants have gained knowledge on food safety, auditing, monitoring and evaluation for auditing process. They have also received information on improvement, nonconformity and corrective actions.

Number of trainings delivered to identified institutions:1 Number of advisory services provided to implement the identified priority interventions:1

Training on ISO 19011:2018 for ANSA staff and additional participants

5 - 8 March 2020 Kabul

Increased the knowledge of participants on guidance on auditing management systems, including the principles of auditing, managing an audit programme and conducting management system audits, as well as guidance on the evaluation of competence of individuals involved in the audit process.


Procurement and delivery of metrology equipment and guidance on usage equipment

January - March 2020 Kabul and remotely

ANSA has enhanced to conduct calibration services

Knowledge transfer to the team of ANSA on the operationalization of the equipment has been provided. ANSA technicians shall receive additional training after the COVID -19 restrictions to enable them to independently carry out the work with the equipment supplied. They shall receive hands on training on the software supplied with MSTC


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Title Draft roadmap on strengthening the food safety control system of Afghanistan

Date/Location August 2019 Background/context Under the AAT project, support has been provided on strengthening the food

safety control system in the country. As a result of a few events, such as the training for 9 government officials that took place in India (Jan-Feb 2019), development of a concept note on food safety control system (2019), the roadmap on the further technical assistance has been developed and proposed to relevant stakeholders.

Results

The stakeholders have been provided with the roadmap that suggests a possible way ahead on strengthening the food safety control system with specific actions proposed under the roadmap. Comments from various stakeholders on the road map for strengthening the food safety control system were compiled in January 2020 and priority areas further identified, as well as suggested actions to be undertaken in the upcoming years.

Supporting documents Roadmap



Title Mission on assessment of laboratories working in the saffron and the fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried) sectors in Kabul and Herat

Date/Location 10-21 November 2019, Kabul and Herat Background/context This mission was held as part of the AAT EU Trade related assistance

programme to support and to make an assessment of laboratories connected with the saffron and the fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried) sectors in Kabul and Herat Province.

Results

This mission achieved its two primary objectives, which were: (i) to conduct an assessment of the capacity and needs of the testing laboratories for saffron, fruits vegetables (fresh and dried) according to requirements of the EU and international standards, and (ii) to conduct a two day training event on the requirements of ISO 17025 for all laboratory technicians and managers in Kabul.

As a result a thorough assessment report has been prepared based on visits, discussions and inputs from the laboratories side. The laboratories visited were:

• MAIL Saffron lab in Herat (DAIL); • Lab of Herat University; • MoPH Food Quality Control lab in Kabul; • Food testing lab (ANSA) in Kabul; • MoIC Raisin, Fruits and Vegetable Laboratory.

Also, a draft roadmap for laboratories has been developed.


5 lab technicians from the above-mentioned laboratories

2000, calibration of instruments and SOPs.

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Mission report; draft roadmap for laboratories


Number of initiatives in Quality and SPS areas completed: 1 Number of advisory services provided to implement the identified priority interventions: 1

Title Two-day training on the requirements of ISO 17025 for all laboratory technicians and managers in Kabul

Date/Location 18-19 November 2019, Kabul Background/context A mission on laboratories assessment connected with the saffron and the

fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried) sectors in Kabul and Herat Province took place between 11-21 November 2019. One of the objectives of the mission was to conduct a two-day training on the requirements of ISO 17025 for all laboratory technicians and managers in Kabul and submit a report on the training.

Results

The primary purpose of the training was to provide an awareness of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 to understand the role of the standard for laboratories to demonstrate capability and competence in the overall conformity assessment framework, and to understand the purpose and function of internal and external audits within a laboratory management system. The training was given by a mixture of interactive discussion sessions and by lectures accompanied with PowerPoint presentations, all with simultaneous translation.

In order to make the ISO/IEC 17025 training more productive and practical, it was agreed with the Afghanistan National Standard Authority (ANSA) to organize a preparatory 2 hours session to introduce the standard. The session was held at the ANSA premises and was facilitated by Mr. Atiqullah Yasar, Head of Quality Management System at ANSA. The participants received a copy of the ISO 17025 standard. The session took place on Saturday, 16 November at 09:00 am at ANSA Office.


The workshop was attended by 27 participants (25 male and 2 female), 17 coming from ANSA, 2 from the Laboratory of Afghan Raisins, Fruits and Vegetable Export Promotion Administration, 3 from the Saffron Laboratory of Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock – Herat, 3 from the Food, Water and Medicine Laboratory of Ministry of Public Health, and one from KIA Research and Development Co., Herat, and one from ITC.

Participant evaluation Most participants were satisfied with the training course with most aspects rated roughly evenly split between ‘excellent’ and ‘very good’. Slightly lower scores were received for (i) the quality of the training materials provided with a request that they should be provided in the local language; (ii) the duration of the training with a request that it should be longer; and (iii) the venue which although not mentioned specifically by participants may be related to some issues we had with power cuts and the fact that the projector was not at optimal performance meaning that the slides were quite dimly lit and difficult to read.


Participant evaluation, list of participants, agenda, Mission report.



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Title Awareness Training on Metrology: No1 Date/Location 16 February 2020, Herat Implementing partners ANSA Background/context Under the AAT project, support has been provided to draft the Afghan

Metrology law. The latter is currently with Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan for final approval to be followed by endorsement. In order to increase the awareness on Metrology in Afghanistan, a number of events have been organized in Kabul, but not in the provinces. The series of events aim to increase awareness in Herat and encourage the private and public sector representatives to be more involved in metrology.

Results

Basic knowledge on metrology among the public and privates sector has been provided

Awareness on Legal Metrology among the public and privates sector has increased


47 participants attended the event, including 7 women. The main organisations represented were the local offices of ANSA, MoIC, ACCI, AWCCI, Herat municipality and transport department and other private sector companies.

Supporting documents Agenda, mission report Contribution towards programmes indicator’s achievement


Title Awareness Training on Metrology: No 2 Date/Location 19 February 2020, Mazar – e – Sharif Implementing partners ANSA Background/context Under the AAT project, support has been provided to draft the Afghan

Metrology law. The latter is currently with Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan for final approval to be followed by endorsement. In order to increase the awareness on Metrology in Afghanistan, a number of events have been organized in Kabul, but not in the provinces. The series of events aim to increase awareness in Mazar – e – Sharif and encourage the private and public sector representatives to be more involved in metrology.

Results

Basic knowledge on metrology among the public and privates sector has been provided.

Awareness on Legal Metrology among the public and privates sector has increased.


34 participants attended the event, including 2 women. The main organisations represented included ANSA Mazar, Customs Department of Mazar, ACCI Mazar, MCIT Branch Mazar, and other private sector companies.

Supporting documents Agenda, mission report



Title Training on ISO 22000:2018 for ANSA staff and additional participants

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Date/Location 23 Feb – 4 March 2020, Kabul Implementing partners KIA Research and Development Company Background/context As a follow up on a series of trainings on ISO standards and efforts to further

build capacity of ANSA officers, AAT has entered into a contractual agreement with KIA Research & Development Co in order to provide a series of trainings. The first training is on ISO 22000:2018. After this training the participants are expected to be a step closer for a thorough course with an examination to allow them being certified auditors.

Results

The training has increased the knowledge on overall Food Safety Management System and specifically on ISO 22000:2018. The participants have gained knowledge on food safety, auditing, monitoring and evaluation for auditing process. They have also received information on improvement, nonconformity and corrective actions.


22 participants mainly from ANSA. Further organisations represented include MoIC/EPD, ANSGU, MoPH, MAIL, AWCCI, ACCI and other private sector businesses.


Agenda of the training, List of participants, KIA Training Concept Note


Number of trainings delivered to identified institutions: 1 Number of advisory services provided to implement the identified priority interventions: 1

Title Training on ISO 19011:2018 for ANSA staff and additional participants Date/Location 5 - 8 March 2020, Kabul Implementing partners KIA Research and Development Company Background/context As a follow up on a series of trainings on ISO standards and efforts to further

build capacity of ANSA officers, AAT has entered into a contractual agreement with KIA Research and Development Co in order to provide a series of trainings. The second training after ISO 22000:2018 is on ISO 19011:2018.

Results

The training has increased the knowledge of participants on guidance on auditing management systems, including the principles of auditing, managing an audit programme and conducting management system audits, as well as guidance on the evaluation of competence of individuals involved in the audit process.


24 participants mainly from ANSA. Further organisations represented include MoIC/EPD, MAIL, ANGSU, ACCI and other private sector businesses.

Participant evaluation On average the participants evaluated the training with 4.56 out of 5 (Scale of 1=Poor to 5=Excellent.) across all questions.


Agenda of the training, List of Participants, KIA Training Concept Note



Title Procurement and delivery of metrology equipment and guidance on usage

Date/Location January - March 2020, Kabul and remotely

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Implementing partners Octagon Precision Background/context Under the AAT project, support has been provided to ANSA laboratories In

this regards, a procurement process has taken place and the purchased equipment was delivered to ANSA, followed by an online guidance on the installation and usage of the equipment.

Results Knowledge transfer to the team of ANSA on the operationalization of the equipment has been provided. ANSA technicians shall receive additional training after the COVID -19 restrictions to enable them to independently carry out the work with the equipment supplied. They shall receive hands on training on the software supplied with MSTC 2000, calibration of instruments and SOPs.


Equipment procurement; email interactions on advice provided



Title Presentation on Packaging for Saffron translated in Dari Language Date/Location July 2019, Kabul Background/context In June 2019 AAT conducted a workshop: “Restitution of the study for

‘packaging testing capacity building of laboratories in Saffron sector: a way forward to support SMEs to comply with international market standards’’. Participants requested the translation in Dari of the presentation

Results Stakeholders in the saffron sector has access to information on packaging in local language

Supporting documents PPT presentations


Number of advisory services provided to implement the identified priority interventions:1

Sub-output: 3. 2: Building performance: Export Promotion Directorate (EPD) The following activities were initiated under the third year of the project. - Consultation mission to develop assessment of EPD for development of Readiness Roadmap - Assessment Report and Readiness Roadmap for EPD - EPD/AAT teleconference (Advisory service) During the fourth year of the project interactions between AAT project staff and MoIC at the outset of the final period indicated that identified capacity building activities were not to proceed in the final period, but rather focus should be on developing a “Buy from Afghanistan" marketing campaign in order to assist EPD to implement its mandate. The following table details progress under the fourth year:

Activity Date/Location Main Achievements Contributing to Indictor

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Title Development of “Buy Afghanistan” marketing campaign Date/Location December 2019 – March 2020 (Remote; Kabul mission)

Implementing partners MoIC Background/context AAT has received a specific request from MoIC to initiate the development

of a “Buy from Afghanistan” marketing campaign with a view to contribute to the implementation of the NES and the objectives of the National Export Plan. Following a number of communications and skype conference call with EPD and H.E. Minister Ahmady, MoIC, a mission (from 12 to 17 March) was organized in order to develop the Afghanistan Brand Value Proposition (BVP). The mission included a number of consultations/interviews with MoIC staff, ACCI, AWCCI, cricket board / tourism board and traders. The original three week planned mission had to be shorten due to the breakout of the COVID-19 crisis. The mission was followed up with communications with all stakeholders including with a presentation of the BVP to Minister Ahmady.

Results Development of an over-arching BVP - supporting the NES business and economic objectives and a ‘Creative Idea’.

Stakeholders found agreement on brand positioning and understand the implications for the next steps to translate this into communications and eventually a promotional campaign.


- Branded ‘Creative Idea’ - “Buy from Afghanistan” - PPT and brief detailing next steps - Mission report



Sub-output 3.3: Increase access to finance for Afghan SMEs in the saffron sector The NES shows that the saffron sector has a high export potential, but limited access to finance is a key challenge that prevents enterprises achieving it. Accordingly, building from the NES and commencing in mid-2018, under this sub-output it was agreed that AAT would support SMEs in the saffron sector by building their financial management capacity through the establishment and strength of local affordable and independent financial management advisory services. The following activities were undertaken under the third year of the project: - Advisory services provided to ANSGU to better support SMEs to access finance - Financial Management Counsellors (FMCs) were selected to coach SMEs to access finance - Training/coaching material on financial literacy and SME coaching was adapted to the Afghan context

Development of “Buy from Afghanistan” marketing campaign

December, 2019 – March, 2020 (Remote; Kabul mission)

Development of an over-arching Afghanistan Brand Value Proposition (BVP) - supporting the NES business and economic objectives and a ‘Creative Idea’


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- Workshop for FMCs on Access to Finance

During the fourth year, the following activities were carried out::

- Advisory services provided to the FMCs to develop 15 financial diagnosis/business plans and 15 business profiles to present to financial institutions

- AAT reached out to the Afghan Credit Guarantee Foundation (ACGF) and Ghazanfar Bank to discuss how they can help the bankable SMEs

- One workshop for FMCs and another for the SMEs on access to finance was organized - ANSGU, with the help of Herat University, developed a feasibility study to establish a seedbank



Sub-output 3.3: Increase access to finance for Afghan SMEs in the saffron sector.

Advisory services provided to the Financial Management Counsellors (FMCs) to handhold and coach 15 SMEs to improve their business/financial operations

July - December 2019

Herat

SMEs improve their knowledge on financial management, accounting and develop business plans.


Advisory services provided to FMCs to conduct financial diagnostic reports/business plans for 15 SMEs

August – October 2019

Geneva/Herat

15 diagnosis reports and business plans are developed


Advisory services provided to FMCs and SMEs to help them develop business/investment profiles

November 2019

remotely

Geneva/Herat

15 business/investment profiles are developed


Training/coaching material on financial literacy, Good governance, business growth strategies, and how to approach financial institutions are developed and translated in Dari

20-30 November 2019

Remotely Geneva/Herat

Key learning resource provided: 10 ITC generic modules were developed and translated in Dari


Training/Workshop for FMCs on Access to finance

10-12 December 2019

Herat

4 FMCs have been trained to coach SMEs. 15 SMEs have been trained in financial literacy and FMC coaching


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Title Advisory services provided to the FMCs to handhold and coach 15

SMEs to improve their business/financial operations Date/Location From July 2019 to March 2020, Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context AAT partnered with ANSGU to deliver quality trainings and advisory services

to member SMEs and cooperatives to improve access capital. ANSGU is working with FMCs who are tasked to improve the financial and business management of SMEs, develop bankable business plans and handhold them to the appropriate financial sources, products and services.

Results SMEs improved their knowledge on financial management, accounting and develop business plans.


Grant MOU with ANSGU



Title Advisory services provided to FMCs to conduct financial diagnostic reports/business plans of 15 SMEs Members of ANSGU

Date/Location August 2019 – October 2019; Geneva/Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context Four FMCs have been selected to deliver quality trainings and advisory

services to ANGSU SMEs and cooperatives to improve access capital. Those FMCs are improving the financial and business management of SMEs, develop financial diagnosis reports/bankable business plans and handhold them to the appropriate financial sources, products and services.

Results 15 diagnosis reports/business plans are developed

Training/coaching material on financial management, Bookkeeping, Credit management, and green finance are developed and translated into Dari

18 February 2020

Herat

Key learning resource provided: at least 6 modules are translated in Dari


Workshop on Access to finance for SMEs

25-27 February 2020

Herat

15 SMEs were trained on financial management, Bookkeeping, Credit management, and green finance. Two financial institutions attended the workshop to present their financial products and services to SMEs


Trainings/coaching modules on sustainable finance are developed for SMEs

27 March 2020 Remotely

Key learning resource provided: 3 modules are developed


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Supporting documents diagnosis reports/business plans/ tools



Title Advisory services provided to FMCs and SMEs to help them develop business/investment profiles

Date/Location November 2019; Geneva/Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context After developing financial diagnosis reports/bankable business plans,

FMCs are helping with summary investment/business profiles that can be presented to the appropriate financial sources, products and services

Results 15 business/investment profiles are developed Supporting documents Short business/investment profiles



Title Training/coaching material on financial literacy, Good governance, business growth strategies, and how to approach financial institutions are developed and translated in Dari

Date/Location 20-30 November 2019; Geneva/Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context The AAT project provided the following modules to the national trainer for

adaption and translation in Dari: 1. Business management 2. Business strategy 3. Leadership 4. Marketing strategy 5. What is finance? 6. Implement and control strategies 7. Budget and forecast 8. How to approach banks? 9. Good governance and good governance 10. Business growth

Results Key learning resource provided: 10 ITC generic modules were developed and translated in Dari

Supporting documents Modules Contribution towards programmes indicator’s achievement


Title Training/Workshop for FMCs on access to finance Date/Location 10-12 December 2019; Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context Workshop provides an opportunity for the FMCs to strengthen their financial

advisory capabilities to the SMEs they are coaching. In collaboration with the Credit Guarantee Foundation (ACGF), Ghazanfar bank agreed to conduct a need assessment, preliminary work to determine

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the bankability and financing needs of SMEs based on the short business profiles shared with them. On the last day, financial institutions also presented some of their products and services that are available to SMEs.

Results 4 FMCs have been trained to coach SMEs. 15 SMEs (including three woman) have been trained in financial literacy and FMC coaching 15 Business/investment profiles are shared with a financial institution and a de-risking financial institutions SMEs were introduced to 4 financial institutions who presented their financial products and services.

Stakeholder/participant information

4 FMCs 15 SMEs (including 3 women) 1 ANGSU official (President) 4 financial institutions

Participant evaluation As per the evaluation forms.SMEs found the workshop useful and practical. The results of the workshops were accepted and most welcomed by all participants. The participants requested additional business management modules.

Supporting documents Modules and tools; Attendance list; Evaluation forms Contribution towards programmes indicator’s achievement



Title Training/coaching material on financial management, bookkeeping, credit management, and green finance are developed and translated into Dari

Date/Location 18 February 2020; Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context After some visits to the SMEs by Ghanzanfar were made, it was clear that

SMEs needed trainings on effective credit building and support to fine tune their financial planning. Hence, this workshop allowed them to understand what is important when attempting to build a credit history and what investors require before giving lending.

Results

Key learning resource provided, with 6 modules translated into Dari

1. Credit Management 2. Financial management 3. Personal Finance 4. Financial planning 5. Green business 6. Good Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Supporting documents 6 developed modules Contribution towards programmes indicator’s achievement


Title Workshop for SMEs on access to finance Date/Location 25-27 February 2020; Herat

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context This workshop was dedicated to SMEs. It was considered to be needed by

a financial institution and was a forum for them to learn about credit

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management and how to keep a sound accounting system (bookkeeping). This allows them to understand what is important when attempting to build a credit history and what investors require before giving lending. This workshop was a forum for SMEs to share their experiences with FMCs and lessons learnt. Two financial institutions were also invited to share the types of financial products and services they offer to SMEs.

Results 3 FMCs have been trained to coach SMEs; 15 SMEs (including three woman) have been trained SMEs could learn about financing products and services of financial institutions.

Stakeholder/participant information

4 FMCs 15 SMEs (including 3 women) 1 ANGSU official (President) 4 Financial institutions represented

Participant evaluation FMCs and SMEs found the workshop useful and practical. There should be continued support on such financial management and literacy courses.

Supporting documents Modules and tools; Attendance list; Evaluation forms Contribution towards programmes indicator’s achievement


Title Trainings/coaching modules on sustainable finance are developed for SMEs

Date/Location 27 March 2020; remotely

Implementing partners ANSGU Background/context Much of the current financial sector’s financing instruments is not

appropriate to finance ANSGU’s members. On several occasions the members communicated to AAT that they are searching different international financing solutions that for their activities. The income for farmers in the saffron sector is highly seasonal, labour and capital intensive. Based on SMEs needs and given the vulnerability of the sector toward climate change and global warming, SMEs must redouble their efforts to put in place mitigation measures. Indeed Afghanistan is ranked among the most vulnerable countries in the world to the adverse impacts of climate change with an increase of 0.6°C in the country’s mean annual temperature since 1960. This implies that Afghanistan is already beginning to experience the initial adverse impacts of climate change. In that respect the country has committed to mobilize USD 17.405 billion, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) finance climate change adaption and mitigation initiatives. Private sector including SMEs is called to play an important role in the fight against climate change. Many initiatives have been designed to support technically and financially SMEs to transition to low carbon practices. However, most SMEs are not aware of such schemes and do not know how to fulfil the conditions and apply for such schemes. For this reason, AAT is increasing the SMEs knowledge on sustainable finance by making available two modules to them. The goal is to create opportunities for the SMEs to tap into additional funding once they built the skills in sustainable finance and are aware of the financing requirements.

Results

Key learning resource provided: 3 modules are developed: 1. Fundamentals of Sustainable Finance 2. Sustainable Finance Market 3. Sustainable Finance Products (Green Bonds and Green Loans)

and Application Procedures Supporting documents Modules

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Sub-output 3.4: Support to “Start-ups and Emerging Entrepreneurs Network” (SEEN) and “young agripreneurship” in the saffron sector This sub-output comes from the priorities identified throughout the design of the NES. Under NES strategic objective 4, some key recommendations and specific activities have been laid out in order to target support to Afghan young entrepreneurs.

Building from the NES and commencing in mid-2018, it was agreed that this sub-output would seek to facilitate the integration of youth in economic activities through entrepreneurship by building the institutional capacity of the recently created SEEN in terms of products and services, so “young agripreneurs” in the saffron sector can be supported to be better connected to markets.

The following activities were undertaken under the third year of the project: - SEEN Institutional Readiness Roadmap Workshop - SEEN official launching ceremony


Title Start Your Business (SYB) Training for Young Saffron Sector

Entrepreneurs Date 17-21 November 2019 Location Herat Implementing partners SEEN Start-ups and Emerging Entrepreneurs Network

Background/context Under Sub-Output 3.4. of this project, AAT is currently strengthening the capacity of SEEN in order to better understand Afghan start-ups in general and more particularly young entrepreneurs that are active in the saffron sector. This sector has been identified as a conducive sector for economic growth as part of the National Export Strategy.

AAT identified training activities in this area of support to youth entrepreneurship to support the implementation of this activity.

Based on the local needs of saffron sector entrepreneurs, AAT used the Start Your Business (SYB) package of Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training program. SIYB is one of the largest global business management training programs developed by the International Labor Organization (ILO), It helps small-scale entrepreneurs to start and grow their business, as a strategy to create more and better employment for women and men, particularly in emerging economies.

Results This training was a good opportunity for young saffron sector entrepreneurs in Herat to develop their entrepreneurial capabilities and use them to start and grow their businesses. Most of the participants didn’t have a solid understanding about how to develop their products or services, how to price


Sub-output 3.4: Support to SEEN and “young agripreneurship” in the saffron sector

Start Your Business (SYB) Training for Young Saffron Sector Entrepreneurs

17 to 21 November 2019

Herat

Training of 30 young entrepreneurs to develop their entrepreneurial skills

Number of trainings delivered to youth: 1

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their products/services, how to hire and manage their employees and how to calculate and control costs in the beginning of the training. While at the end of this training participants had a considerable knowledge on how to start a business, from where to start and which factors to consider while making decisions.

One of the important achievements of this training for the participants were, that for each decision, they should put their customers and their needs first, and then develop their products/services and operations accordingly.

At the end of this training participants became able to:

- Assess their entrepreneurial abilities and find the methods to improve them

- Describe the importance of a business plan and define its parts - Perform market research using locally applicable methods - Describe the marketing plan and its parts - Prepare their product/service development plan - Develop their pricing plan for their products/services - Choose the right place for their business and select the effective

distribution methods - Develop a result-oriented promotion plan using economically

effective tools - Find qualified employees to deliver defined set of business tasks - Choose a suitable legal form for their business - Procure business equipment in the right time and with the right

process - Tailor their business process to avoid critical harms to the

environment - Differentiate between fixed costs and variable costs in the business - Calculate the total fixed costs and variable costs for the business

and for each unit of product/service - Describe the concepts of balance sheets, cash flow, and profit &

loss statements.


30 young entrepreneurs

Participant evaluation Based on the end of the training evaluation sheets participants found the contents of this training highly applicable to solve their day to day businesses issues.


National consultant report with content, evaluations, list of participants


Number of trainings delivered to young entrepreneurs: 1

Sub-output 3.5: Support to AWCCI

Under the NES, women are recognized as a population cohort requiring targeted and tailored support. Accordingly, specific activities focused on facilitating the integration and positioning of Afghan women into trade-related activities are explicitly included under the NES.

To further support this NES identified need, in-mid 2018 AAT commenced a mid-project initiative to commence the path forward for enabling women to greater prosper from trade in their country.

During the first reporting period, activities to support AWCCI were covered under Output 2, and included:

- Preparation of the Institutional Strengthening Road Map for AWCCI - Completion and delivery of the assessment report of AWCCI - Human resources available and ready to assist AWCCI’s advocacy and communications strategy


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Title Operational document –AWCCI – A Review of Objectives, Activities,

and Future Plans Date/Location July - August 2019, Kabul

Implementing partners AWCCI Background/context Specific request from AWCCI.

Results The process of developing the strategic document enabled the association to define main programmatic areas and their objectives – which were as follows: research (academic and policy related); sales support and Investment support, and advocacy and raising awareness.


AWCCI – A Review of Objectives, Activities, and Future Plans – final document



Title Provision of ITC SME Trade Academy E-learning courses (translated into Dari and Pashtu)

Date/Location July 2019 – March 2020, Kabul, remotely

Implementing partners AWCCI Background/context Following a meeting between AAT and AWCCI held in July, 2019, to agree

upon further activities to strengthen the association under the remainder of the project, keen interest was expressed by AWCCI in utility of the ITC SME Trade Academy E-learning courses so as to provide for their women members. It was additionally expressed that these courses would need to be translated into Dari and Pashto so as to be more usable for their membership.


Sub-output 3.5: Support to AWCCI

Operational document –AWCCI – A Review of Objectives, Activities, and Future Plans

July - August 2019

Kabul

AWCCI capacity built to define and communicate main programmatic areas and their objectives


Provision of ITC SME Trade Academy E-learning courses (translated into Dari and Pashtu)

July 2019 – March 2020

Kabul, remotely

Strengthened capacity of AWCCI to provide self-help learning materials to its membership


Advisory services on how to create a sustainable business model for AWCCI

February/March, 2019 remotely

Clearer understanding of AWCCI situation leading to specific agreement and guidance for action. Peer to peer conversations giving respect, compassion, reassurance, confidence and coaching to AWCCI.


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Accordingly AWCCI together with AAT, agreed upon the five most relevant courses from the catalogue to be provided to them in Dari and Pashto.

Results Strengthened capacity of AWCCI to provide self-help learning materials to its membership, by providing and translating into Dari and Pashto the following ITC SME Trade Academy E-learning courses: Considering Export Markets; Setting up an Export Marketing Strategy; Export Sales and Negotiation; Using Virtual Marketplaces for your E-commerce Initiative, and; Creating Quality E-commerce Content.

Supporting documents E-Learning translated courses (on dedicated AWCCI web platform)



Title Advisory services on how to create a sustainable business model for AWCCI

Date/Location February - March 2019, remotely

Implementing partners AWCCI Background/context As part of the recommendations made of the AAT, and as follow up to the

institutional assessment of AWCCI, a deeper level of engagement was established with the CEO of AWCCI. Taking the form of peer to peer support, and drawing on executive coaching techniques, the Chief of ITC’s Institutional Strengthening Section scheduled calls with the AWCCI executives to review current needs, help to prioritise actions, and provide expert guidance.

Results

Clearer understanding of AWCCI situation leading to specific agreement and guidance for action. Peer to peer conversations giving respect, compassion, reassurance, confidence and coaching to AWCCI.

Supporting documents Email interactions



OUTPUT 4: Knowledge sharing mechanisms for GIRoA staff on trade policy/negotiation formulation and implementation are established in partnership with a training institute from the Region

At the outset of the AAT programme, a partnership arrangement between MoIC, CWS and ITC was signed. It was agreed that CWS would deliver “Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme” over an approximately two-year period commencing in April 2017 and end not later than 30 June 2019. The programme was aimed at building the capacity of MoIC and other trade-related ministries and implementing agencies/government officers. CWS and MoIC will work together so as to ensure local ownership for the training programme is built so that it can be implemented locally following the involvement of CWS.

It was agreed that the programme will cover, amongst other things, trade analysis, trade diplomacy, trade litigation and professional monitoring of compliance and effects of trade agreements. In-class training will be followed up by an “on the job” coaching providing targeted support to the participating officers. By the end of

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the programme, participants will be expected to have enhanced their understanding of the professional skills in these areas.

As a first activity, a need assessment was initiated of the current level of technical capacities of the country’s officers in responding to multilateral, regional and bilateral obligations stemming from WTO and other trade agreements. In addition, gaps were identified in the skills of officers and institutions in formulating, coordinating and implementing trade policy/regulatory reforms and preparing for and conducting trade negotiations. The results of the need assessment would further inform the training curriculum developed under the programme.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the first, second and third year of the project.

First year:

• Overall: Afghanistan’s MoIC partners with Indian CWS • Needs assessment for Trade Policy and Trade Negotiations Training and Certification for Government

Officials in Afghanistan Second year: For batch 1 of students. • Introductory Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • First Advanced Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme • Second Advanced Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme • Third Advanced Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Study Tour (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Advisory services (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Internship programme (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme • Mentorship (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Development of training material (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) Third year: For batch 2 of students. • Introductory Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • First Advanced Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Second Advanced Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Third Advanced Training (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Study Tour (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Advisory services (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Internship programme (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Valedictory Function (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme) • Mentorship (As part of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme)

• By trainers trained: Local training course - Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme – in

operation

The table below summarizes the activities implemented during the fourth year:


OUTPUT 4: Knowledge sharing mechanisms for GIRoA staff on trade policy/negotiation formulation and implementation are established in partnership with a training institute from the Region

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Title Development of WTO reference at Kabul University

Date/Location June 2019 – March 2020, Kabul / Remotely

Implementing partners Kabul University Background/context Kabul University proposed this initiative and prepared a concept note, which

was reviewed by the AAT team and enhancements made. AAT then coordinated the approval of the concept note by the EUD and obtained endorsement for the initiative at the third PSC meeting. Development of the centre was considered important, as Afghanistan is a newly acceded WTO member, so that various stakeholders (government officials / academics / private sector) can obtain key information on WTO matters. As Kabul University was developing on WTO and its links to government being close, it was considered most appropriate to host the centre at the premises of the University.

Results With AAT support, the Centre is now established at Kabul University and housed at the faculty of economics.

The Centre was inaugurated on 19 March 2020 by the Chancellor of Kabul University.


N/A

Title Kabul University teaching of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme

Date/Location March – July 2019, Kabul

Implementing partners CWS; MoIC Background/context As part of the partnership between MoIC and CWS a mentoring programme

would be implemented. CWS would work closely with the identified university(ies)/institution(s) for developing curriculum on trade policies and international trade. This would be done through a combination of in-person interaction (as part of selected participant attending the seven month

Development of WTO reference Centre at Kabul University

June 2019 – March 2020

Kabul / Remotely

Kabul’s University’s capacities built for delivering trainings and research on WTO/trade policy matters.

N/A

Kabul University teaching of Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme

March – July 2019 Kabul

Utility of university to government for providing technical expertise on WTO matters built. 130 students already trained; research on WTO matters stimulated.

N/A

Inauguration of WTO Reference Centre

19 March 2020

Kabul

High-level recognition among stakeholders on the importance of the centre.

Number of meetings: 1

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“Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade Programme”) and distance interactions through emails and Skype. Every attempt would be made to use examples from Afghanistan to explain key concepts in the module. Accordingly, throughout 2017 and 2018 “Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade“, was developed by Kabul University through mentoring of Centre for WTO Studies. The curriculum was approved by Kabul University for teaching at the university.

Results Kabul University launched the “Afghanistan, WTO and International Trade” programme to year four students of the commerce department.

- Kabul University has the human resources and technical materials to deliver programme (a first of its kind in Afghanistan).

- Kabul University has faculty members skilled in WTO/Trade policy issues to be used as a resource to government.

- Students completing the programme will be a resource to government.

Kabul’s University’s capacities built for delivering trainings and research on WTO/trade policy matters, with: 130 students already trained; research on WTO matters stimulated; opportunity for joint policy research/training projects between Kabul University and the government on WTO matters available.

Participant information Over 130 year four students from the Faculty of Commerce, Kabul University, of which 40% are female

Supporting documents Course documents


N/A

Title Inauguration of the WTO Reference Centre at Kabul University

Date/Location 19 March 2020

Implementing Partners Kabul University Background/ context As Afghanistan is a newly acceded WTO member, Kabul University

proposed that a resource centre on WTO affairs be established at the university to augment the subject that is already being taught and also facilitate further research by various stakeholders (government officials / academics / private section) to obtain key information on WTO matters. This proposal was approved by the 3rd PSC meeting. As Kabul University was developing on WTO and its links to government being close, it was considered most appropriate to host the centre at the premises of the University. AAT supported KU with equipment, books and access to online library of the WTO. In addition, AAT provided logistical support to facilitate the inauguration of the centre on 19 March 2020.

Results The WTO Resource Centre at Kabul University was officially opened on 19 March 2020.

The keynote speaker was the Senior Advisor to the President and Chancellor of Kabul University Mr. Hamidullah Farooqi who appreciated the

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EU and AAT for the continuous support that has been provide throughout the last three years and for making the opening of this centre a reality.

As part of the support package, AAT provided equipment, books and research and iLibrary resources that would enable further research and also provide training opportunities.

The centre fills an important gap in terms of research and training opportunities for students and faculty members of KU and would train next generation of policy makers equipped with skills related to international trade and WTO affairs.

Kabul University has plans to upgrade this centre to a department or institute of international trade and WTO affairs at the Economics Faculty.

The faculty of Economics and Kabul University demonstrated the ability and willingness to manage research and training programmes in future thanks to the training of four of its members at CWS in Delhi, training subject for the students and now the inauguration of this well-equipped centre.

Given the capacity built there, AAT phase 2 could explore the possibility of outsourcing some of its research activities under the bilateral trade discussions component and also potentially conduct of its training workshops through this centre and the expertise available there.

Participant information Total participants: 35

Male: 33

Female: 2

Organisations present: Ministry of High Education, Kabul University, Faculty of Economics, AAT.

Supporting documents Media report, agenda

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OUTPUT 5: Institutional mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of the TFA are established at national level and linked with regional partners

During Year 1, the following was achieved:

- AAT – in close collaboration with USAID ATAR project - conducted an extensive research into the implementation status of the TFA in Afghanistan, assessing the extent to which each TFA measure has been implemented in the country (both in law and in practice) and the remaining gaps / needs to achieve compliance.

- AAT built the capacity of IMCWTF Members through several capacity building / public-private events on

the WTO TFA. - Building upon this research and upon capacity building events towards IMCWTF Members, AAT assisted

the IMCWTF in issuing recommendations towards the categorization of the TFA obligations taking into consideration the needs and expectation of the private sector.

- AAT sponsored the participation of 3 Afghan representatives to the first International NTFC Forum in

January 2017. During this event, Afghan delegates could interact with their counterparts from other countries on topics such as regional approaches to TF reforms, categorization and ratification processes, NTFC best practices, how to draft national trade facilitation roadmap, etc. Afghanistan participation to this event was instrumental in expediting the processes of categorization, notification and roadmap development in the country.

- AAT also sponsored the participation of MoIC representatives to the Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum

in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation is the leading regional platform for the exchange of information, experiences and practice on trade facilitation

- AAT also provided advisory services to improve the operation of the IMCWTF. During the IMCWTF

workshops, several sessions were dedicated to best practices on the operationalization of the National Trade Facilitation Committees.


- AAT provided ongoing advisory services to the Government of Afghanistan to facilitate the endorsement of the categorization recommendations by the High-Economic Council. The HEC approved the categorization recommendation and the Government of Afghanistan officially notified their commitments to the WTO on the 19 February 2018.

- Taking into consideration the categorization recommendations mentioned above and building upon

extended interviews with public and private stakeholders involved in international trade in Afghanistan, AAT has developed a Trade Facilitation Strategy that has been incorporated as a dedicated in the National Export Strategy.

- Consistently with the requirement of the TFA (i.e. Article 16), AAT supported the Government of

Afghanistan in defining the implementation timelines for their remaining obligations under the TFA. To this end, AAT held a prioritization and sequencing workshop in Kabul with the IMCWTF Membership between the 12 and the 14 of May 2018. With AAT support, the IMCWTF ranked TFA measures in order of priority (based and on cost-benefit analysis) and then sequenced the reforms over a 10-year period. The concrete output of this workshop was a ten-year national trade facilitation roadmap with implementation timelines for each TFA reforms required under the WTO Agreement.

- In late June 2018, AAT and ACCI organized a five-day workshop with private sector representatives to

review the IMCWTF recommendations for trade facilitation reforms timelines.

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- Building upon the prioritization and sequencing workshop organised in May 2018, AAT provided advisory services to MoIC to refine the IMCWTF trade facilitation roadmap taking into consideration private sector priorities for cross-border reforms.

- Building upon the results of the June 2018 workshop, AAT drafted a technical note – shared with MoIC

in July 2018 – to reflect the views of the business community in the IMCWTF trade facilitation roadmap.

- The project also supported the Government of Afghanistan by conducting a comparative analysis of the IMCWTF and Afghanistan Customs Department’s (ACD) Five Year Strategic to identify the potential discrepancies in implementation timelines and developed a concept note - shared with MoIC – to facilitate the convergence of the two documents to ensure consistency. This emerged following further consideration that the ACD timelines for trade facilitation reforms did not factor the reforms required by other border regulatory agencies (e.g. MoIC, MAIL, ACCI) to achieve compliance with TFA requirements.

- AAT provided initial advisory services to the Government of Afghanistan to facilitate the endorsement of

the national trade facilitation roadmap developed by the IMCWTF with the technical assistance of AAT by the HEC. Once approved it can be used as a basis for notification of the implementation timelines of the TFA obligations.

- Upon request of the MoIC, AAT has developed a concept note to emphasise the role that MoIC should

play in the operationalisation of the IMCWTF. By maintaining a leading role in the work of the IMCWTF, MoIC has an opportunity to champion reforms across all border regulatory agencies and to implement Afghanistan’s national trade facilitation roadmap effectively.

The WTO TFA is an important tool for economies to improve their business environment. For businesses, especially for SMEs, operationalizing the TFA is a path to internationalization, which will allow them to access international value chains at lower cost and at greater speeds. Like other WTO agreements, the degree to which the intended benefits of the TFA can be actually realized will depend upon how it is implemented in national law and practice taking into account private sector’s inputs.

In this context, AAT developed and translated in Dari and Pashto a two day training module aimed at assisting Afghan businesses to understand the terms, potential benefits and practical use of each of the technical measures of the new Agreement and to equip them to successfully contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of the TFA in Afghanistan, notably through the IMCWTF.

To ensure a wide outreach of this training program, AAT signed a MoU with the ACCI that entered into force in March 2019. Under this MoU, AAT equipped 7 representatives from ACCI with the necessary technical and pedagogical skills to deliver the 2 days training module autonomously during a training-of-trainer workshop in Istanbul. ACCI committed to organize 6 events towards the private sector in Kabul and provinces. It resulted in the delivery of three private sector workshops by ACCI in Kabul, Herat and Kandahar in April 2019, reaching out to more than 120 business’ representatives across the country.

- Since December 2018, AAT is supporting the Government of Afghanistan to operationalize the national

trade facilitation roadmap. One of the priority area of intervention highlighted in the NES and the roadmap relates to the availability of information on cross-border formalities. In this context, AAT is assisting the government of Afghanistan to establish a trade facilitation portal compliant with Article 1.2 of the WTO TFA. Detailed information on this initiative is available under Output 6.

- AAT organized a training / study tour of six Afghan delegates to Tajikistan in December 2018 to build their

capacity on the establishment and operationalization of the Trade Facilitation Portal in Tajikistan. The Afghanistan delegation could learn from the successful experience of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan in developing a Trade Facilitation Portal.

During the current period:

As a result of AAT’s support, Afghanistan used extension mechanism offered by the TFA and submitted to WTO TF Committee in February 2020 a request for extension for notification of implementation timelines for Category B measures and technical assistance required for Category C TFA measures implementation.

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This request for extension was requested in order to ensure formal endorsement by HEC of the above mentioned national trade facilitation roadmap.

As a result of AAT’s support, Afghanistan notified the WTO TF Committee in February 2020 the implementation timelines for Category B measures and technical assistance required for Category C TFA measures implementation.

- Building upon the work undertaken in year 3, AAT further strengthened IMCWTF’s functioning and

operationalisation. Following the identification of some deficiencies, AAT has provided continuous advisory service to the IMCWTF secretariat notably to emphasise the role that MoIC in the operationalisation of the Committee. In the course of the current period, key MoIC staffs covering Trade Facilitation issues, including WTO affairs director was replaced, AAT’s trade facilitation experts therefore provided advisory service to ensure that earlier recommendations are taken over.

- AAT reinforced Afghanistan participation to SPECA Economic Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in

November 2019 sponsoring participation of four delegates. The event aimed at advancing high-level negotiations on bilateral and regional trade and transit agreement as well as a regional strategy on trade facilitation. The Forum was also an important platform to present Trade Facilitation Portal initiative and discuss possibilities for establishing a regional Central Asia portal and include Afghanistan portal in this regional platform.


Activity Date/location Main Achievements Contributing to indicator

Activity 5.1 - Support the implementation of the WTO TFA

Support to notification process of the implementation timelines and technical assistance

February 2020 Kabul / Geneva

Notification of the implementation timelines and technical assistance as required per WTO TFA

Number of recommendations towards the implementation of the TFA issued and/or endorsed by the Government of Afghanistan : 1

Activity 5.2 - Support the capacity building and operationalization of IMCWTF

Advisory services towards the further operationalization of the IMCWTF

January – February 2020 Kabul / Geneva, in close consultation with local stakeholders.

New WTO affairs director and other key MoIC staff are briefed and take over recommendations towards MoIC leading role in the operations of the IMCWTF

N/A

Activity 5.4 - Support and facilitate regional network of NTFC to encourage experience sharing

Afghanistan participation to SPECA Economic Forum

20-21 November 2019 Ashgabat

Afghanistan participated in high-level negotiations and was able to present progress incurred in the field of trade facilitation related issues

Participants to SPECA Economic Forum in Ashgabat (2019): 4

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Activity 5.1: Support the implementation of the WTO TFA through technical advisory services to IMCWTF and other government agencies & Activity 5.2: Support the capacity building and operationalization of IMCWTF and other public sector agencies to implement the WTF TFA

Title Support to notification process of the implementation timelines and technical assistance

Date/Location February 2020, Kabul / Geneva Implementing partners MoIC Background/ context Following AAT’s support to develop a national trade facilitation roadmap,

AAT provided initial advisory services to the Government of Afghanistan to facilitate the endorsement of the national trade facilitation roadmap developed by the IMCWTF with the technical assistance of AAT by the HEC Once approved and following further support from AAT through advisory services, this document was used as a basis for notification of the definitive implementation timelines for Category B measures as well as technical assistance needs for Category C measures.

Results Notification of the implementation timelines and technical assistance as required per WTO TFA

Supporting documents Relevant notification to WTO TF committee (to be published)


Number of recommendations towards the implementation of the TFA issued and/or endorsed by the Government of Afghanistan : 1

Activity 5.2 - Support the capacity building and operationalization of IMCWTF

Title Advisory services towards the further operationalization of the IMCWTF

Date/Location January – February 2020, Kabul / Geneva Implementing partners MoIC Background/ context Following replacement of WTO affairs director and other key MoIC staff,

ITC experts delivered tailored information sessions to present the work achieved under this output and provided concrete recommendations to ensure effective handover and appropriation of AAT’s achievement for maximum result beyond the duration of the phase 1 of the project.

Results New WTO affairs director and other key MoIC staff are briefed and take over recommendations towards MoIC leading role in the operations of the IMCWTF

Activity 5.4 - Support and facilitate regional network of NTFC to encourage experience sharing

Title Afghan delegation’s participation to SPECA Economic Forum Date/Location 20-21 November 2019, Ashgabat Implementing partners SPECA Economic Forum, ACD, MoIC

Background/ context

The event aimed at advancing high-level negotiations on bilateral and regional trade and transit agreement as well as a regional strategy on trade facilitation. The forum was also an important platform to present Trade Facilitation Portal initiative and discuss possibilities for establishing a regional Central Asia portal and include Afghanistan portal in this regional platform.

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Results Afghanistan participated in high-level negotiations and was able to present progress incurred in the field of trade facilitation related issues

Supporting Document Event report


Number of participants from public and private institutions to regional events in the area of trade facilitation: 4

OUTPUT 6: SME knowledge of how to manage national cross-border procedures and compliance with regional and/or global market requirements is built encompassing priority markets (building on NES findings) During the previous reporting periods, the following was achieved: - AAT developed and published five National Trade Procedure Guides covering the following product

groups: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Saffron, Dried Fruits and Nuts, Carpets and Handicrafts. The product groups were selected based on the priority sectors identified in the Afghanistan National Export Strategy. Each of the Guides cover the following topics: sectorial analysis, step-by-step export processes (by air and ground transport), destination specific requirements, export support facilities and samples of the forms and documents required to complete an international trade operation.

- The Guides were developed in close collaboration with public and private stakeholders and notably

representatives from the relevant business associations and border regulatory agencies. However, due to ongoing reforms of Afghanistan export procedures, AAT could not obtain a formal validation of the Guides from local stakeholders since end of 2017.

- The five National Trade Procedure Guides have been edited, formatted, translated into Pashto and

published as drafts. As of today, the Guides haven’t been printed and disseminated as they lack the official validation from local stakeholders (this issue had been raised during the second Project Steering Committee meeting).

- Building upon the Export Management Guides developed, AAT developed and implemented an On-the-

job SME Coaching Programme thereby building national capacity of several identified coaches able to provide On-the-job Coaching to SMEs.

- From July to December 2018, AAT’s trade facilitation experts developed coaching manual to provide a

comprehensive methodology on how to assist SMEs in improving their export management practices through regular consultations with Afghan businesses. Translated into Dari and Pashto for maximum outreach, the coaching manual was tailored to the specific challenges encountered by SMEs in Afghanistan and covers 40 frequently faced problems met by local businesses in the areas of: Packaging & Labelling, Mandatory Certifications/Registrations and Buyer Standards, Customs and Duties, International Shipping by Sea and Air Freight, Export Planning and Pro Forma Invoice.

- In December 2018, AAT organized a regional Export Management Coach (EMCs) training in Colombo,

Sri Lanka. The objective of this workshop was to build the capacity of the Afghan Export Management Coachs on the on-the-job coaching methodology as well as on the use of the above mentioned SME Coaching Manual. The workshop was held in Sri Lanka to allow Afghan representatives to learn from the experiences of Sri Lankan Export Management Coaches and to join them in their coaching missions in Sri Lankan SMEs implemented under another EU funded project.

- Following this training, AAT initiated the roll out of its Export Management Coaching Programme for SMEs resulting in the training of 7 SMEs on Export Management following the predefined methodology

During the current reporting period, the following was achieved:

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- Building upon the information collected to establish the five National Trade Procedure Guides as drafts, AAT further advanced the work to establish and operationalise the National Trade Facilitation Portal firstly by increasing the number of step by step procedures and products available on the platform for consultation. This work was undertaken by AAT consultants and implied a wide number of visits to all border regulatory agencies involved in the export of the identified sectors in order to collect relevant information to populate the platform (i.e. contact persons, documentation requirements, supporting laws, regulations and administrative procedures, fees and charges, average processing time, etc.).

- Following satisfactory advancement of the development of the National Trade Facilitation Portal by the

mapping of 5 priority export procedures in the months of the current reporting period as well as further configuration of the Portal to adapt it to the country’s needs, initial sensitisation work have been undertaken through the organisation of a soft launch of this platform during one IMCWTF. This successful event organised on 23 February 2020 and chaired by the Minister of Industry and Commerce presented the National Trade Facilitation Portal and underlined MoIC’s as well as IMCWTF members’ responsibilities in updating the Portal beyond the duration of the project.

- Finally, AAT also finalised the roll out of its Export Management Coaching Programme for SMEs in direct

continuity with the On-the-job Coaching sessions organised in between April and June, 2019 resulting in the training of 17 additional SMEs on export management.


Activity 6.2 – Establish and operationalize a trade facilitation portal in Afghanistan

Title Mapping of 10 step-by-step export procedures into National Trade Facilitation Portal (NTFC)

Date/Location From July 2019 to February 2020, Kabul Implementing partners MoIC

Background/ context

In order to strengthen private sector access to cross border trade information, AAT supported the establishment, operationalisation and soft launch of a sustainable NTFC embedded in the Afghan MoIC, thereby enhancing compliance with WTO TFA (Article 1.2). This initiative reproduce in Afghanistan a portal developed by ITC/UNCTAD in over 15

Activity Date/location Main Achievements Contributing to indicator

Activity 6.2 – Establish and operationalize a trade facilitation portal in Afghanistan

Mapping of 10 Step-by-step export procedures into National Trade Facilitation Portal

From July 2019 to February 2020 Kabul

Export procedures (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Saffron, Dried Fruits and Nuts, Carpets and Handicrafts) are mapped and available online

Step-by-step export procedures are available in the Afghanistan National Trade Facilitation Portal : 10

Soft launch of the National Trade Facilitation Portal

23 February 2020 Kabul

The National Trade Facilitation Portal is presented to IMCWTF members

N/A

Activity 6.3 – Design and implement an Export Management Coaching Programme for SMEs in Afghanistan Organisation of 17 On-the-job Coaching session

From 1 July 2019 to 30 August 2019 Kabul

SMEs are coached on good export management practices

Number of SMEs coached on export management practices: 17

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countries, assisting countries to enhance the transparency of cross-border formalities. Following National Trade Facilitation Portal establishment in the second part of 2018, AAT built national capabilities to operate and maintain the Afghanistan National Trade Facilitation Portal beyond the project life by organising a one-week training for six Afghan representatives in December 2018 in Dushanbe in order to build the capacity of Afghanistan stakeholders on the use of the portal as well as on the data collection methodology. From January 2019 onward and building upon the work already undertaken to develop the Export Management Guides, two AAT consultants - trained during the regional portal workshop in Dushanbe - have visited all border regulatory agencies involved in the export of the identified sectors to collect relevant information (i.e. contact persons, documentation requirements, supporting laws, regulations and administrative procedures, fees and charges, average processing time.) As part of this activity two AAT consultants undertook the task to further populate cross border trade procedures into NTFC.

Results Step-by-step export procedures are mapped into NTFC

Supporting Document Progress reports Step-by-step export procedures are available in the NTFC


Step-by-step export procedures are available in the NTFC: 10

Title Soft launch of the National Trade Facilitation Portal Date/Location 23 February 2020, Kabul Implementing partners MoIC

Background/ context

In order to strengthen private sector access to cross border trade information, AAT supported the establishment, operationalisation and soft launch of a sustainable National Trade Facilitation Portal embedded in the Afghan MoIC, thereby enhancing compliance with WTO TFA (Article 1.2). This initiative reproduce in Afghanistan a portal developed by ITC/UNCTAD in over 15 countries, assisting countries to enhance the transparency of cross-border formalities. Following satisfactory progress in the development of the NTFC by the mapping of five key products into the portal, a meeting of IMCWTF was organised to present the progress to members as well as to present the next steps to ensure full implementation further development.

Results The NTFC is presented to IMCWTF members

Supporting Document Attendance list

Activity 6.3 – Design and implement and Export Management Coaching Programme for SMEs in Afghanistan

Title On-the-job Export Management Coaching sessions Date/Location From 1 July 2019 to 30 August 2019, Kabul

Background/ context

Building upon the Export Management Guides, AAT developed and implemented an On-the-job SME Coaching Programme thereby building national capacity of several identified coaches able to provide On-the-job Coaching to SMEs.

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From July to December 2018, AAT’s trade facilitation experts developed coaching manual to provide a comprehensive methodology on how to assist SMEs in improving their export management practices through regular consultations with Afghan businesses. Translated into Dari and Pashto for maximum outreach, the coaching manual was tailored to the specific challenges encountered by SMEs in Afghanistan and covers 40 frequently faced problems met by local businesses in the areas of: Packaging and Labelling, Mandatory Certifications/Registrations and Buyer Standards, Customs and Duties, International Shipping by Sea and Air Freight, Export Planning and Pro Forma Invoice. The SME coaching manual has been In December 2018, AAT organized a regional Export Management Coach (EMCs) training in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The objective of this workshop was to build the capacity of the Afghan EMCson the on-the-job coaching methodology as well as on the use of the above mentioned SME Coaching Manual. The workshop was held in Sri Lanka to allow Afghan representatives to learn from the experiences of Sri Lankan EMCs and to join them in their coaching missions in Sri Lankan SMEs implemented under another EU funded project. By bringing Afghan representatives to Colombo, the project could build synergies among EU funded initiatives in the SAARC region and expose Afghan coaches to practical example of SME coaching practices.

Results

During the reporting period this initiative provided On-the-job coaching to SMEs identified in the priority sectors covered in the NES. The project endeavoured, whenever possible, to deliver SME coaching sessions to women-led businesses.

Supporting Document SME coaching reports


Number of SMEs coached on export management practices: 17

OUTPUT 7: Public-private consultation process on domestic/regional key pressing trade policy/regulatory/negotiation issues is strengthened

Afghanistan National Trade Policy: 2019 - 2023

At the outset of the project, and upon the specific request of MoIC, AAT was requested to provide technical support for the development of a national trade policy five year plan. Therefore, AAT, in consultation with MoIC, developed a work plan to produce the policy document. Following extensive fact-finding and a review of policy related documents as well as previously drafted national trade policy documents, a first draft version of the “Afghanistan National Trade Policy: 2019 - 2023” (ANTP) was drafted. The draft utilised an ITC developed methodology which assesses trade policy instruments that impact each stage of the supply chain.

A review process of the ANTP was then initiated by MoIC, which included a national stakeholder consultation meeting to present the findings and obtain feedback for incorporation. Further rounds of reviews were made and AAT provided technical inputs/drafting. It became further important to ensure coherence between the ANTP and the National Priority Programme on Private Sector Development (NPP/PSD).

Bilateral stakeholder consultation to enhance trade relations between Afghanistan and neighbouring countries

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During the first year of project implementation it was confirmed the project would support regular bilateral stakeholder consultation between Afghanistan and Iran (or alternatively Uzbekistan) aimed at enhancing trading relations. AAT recommended and subsequently gained the initial approval for the methodology/timeframes for undertaking bilateral consultations, intended to occur over the next two-year period. Much ground work, needs analysis, consultation with stakeholders and their endorsement was undertaken to confirm this key direction.

However progress was stalled during the first half of the second year of the AAT project, owing to change of Government of Afghanistan priority to favour Iran to engage with for this initiative. Eventually, the Government of Afghanistan confirmed that it would prefer to pursue this initiative with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Subsequently, AAT together with Government of Afghanistan set about sensitizing and gaining the support of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan counterparts to this initiative, which was eventually confirmed only in May, 2018.

In short, the following activities were undertaken under the first, second and third year of the project.

First year:

• Needs assessment for the operationalisation of a PPD platform on trade policy (study) • Draft policy document: ANTP (2019 -2023) • Supporting bilateral stakeholder consultations to enhance trading relations between Afghanistan and

Iran/Uzbekistan. This included developing a concept note on the initiative based on identified need and ITC past know-how.

Second year:

• Policy document: ANTP: Interactions with stakeholders and experts ongoing to fine-tune draft. • Policy recommendations study: Trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan: Issues and Options for

Enhancement • Policy recommendations study: Trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan: Issues and Options for

Enhancement • ACCI position paper: Trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan: Issues and Options for Enhancement • ACCI position paper: Trade between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan: Issues and Options for Enhancement • ANTP National Stakeholder Consultation • Afghanistan – Uzbekistan: First Public Private Dialogue to enhance trading relations & Pre-event mission

to Tashkent

Third year:

• Potential economic impact of Frontier Trade Zones between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan – a Rapid Assessment

• Economic Impact of a Potential Free Trade Agreement between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan – a Rapid Assessment

• Development of a concept note for Afghanistan’s MRA strategy • Analysis of the coherence between the ANTP and the NPP PSD • ANTP National Stakeholder Consultation • Afghan government and Balkh private sector consultation on deepening of trade relations with Uzbekistan • First Public Private Dialogue on Enhancing Trading Relations Between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan • Pre-event organized by MoIC in Almaty to meet with the Afghan business community based in this city and

feed the Minister of Industry and Commerce with their views • Training of private sector organizations on issues to be further addressed through public private

consultations (held at ITC Geneva main office in cooperation with USAid).

During the current period:

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• Building on the first PPD with Uzbekistan in year two of the project, under the current period a second Public Private Dialogue between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan was held to enhance trading relations and further explore the

• Consultative meeting between MoIC and major Afghan traders in Tashkent • Support in the finalisation of the ANTP for the eventual endorsement by the Cabinet in October, 2019 and

advisory support to MoIC to align the ANTP with the Government’s priorities as advised by the President in the Cabinet meeting

• Launch of the ANTP on 19 February to the public and the private sector to sensitize the stakeholders regarding fostering close coordination for successful implementation of the document

The following table details progress under the fourth year

Activity Date/location Main Achievements Contributing to

indicator Activity 7.3: Public-private policy consultations (included at bilateral/ and regional level) are organized Second Public Private Dialogue on Enhancing Trading Relations Between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan & A preparatory technical session (July 15) held between the two sides to finalise the negotiations on the official minutes of the main PPD

16 July 2019 Tashkent 15 July 2019 Tashkent

Bilateral platform for engaging between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to enhanced A joint agreement laying out the next steps and ensuring a follow up mechanism was signed

Number of public-private dialogues/trainings held: 2 Number of recommendations stemming from PPD: 17

Consultation meeting between MoIC and Afghan Traders

16 July 2019 Tashkent

Consultative platform for Afghan traders to raise challenges and propose recommendations. MoIC to facilitate further opportunities for the private sector and establish the Afghan Business Chamber in Tashkent

Private dialogues/trainings held: 1 Number of recommendations stemming from PPD: 3

ANTP launch and private sector sensitisation

11 February 2020 Kabul

ANTP was launched and the private sector were informed of the key discussions and policy areas.

Private sector committed to supporting the government in the implementation of the policy document.

Number of public private dialogues, trainings held: 1

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Title Second Public Private Dialogue on Enhancing Trading Relations Between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan

Location/date 16 July 2019, Tashkent Implementing partners MoIC, Ministry of Foreign Trade for Uzbekistan, AAT Background/ context

Upon the request of the Afghanistan Government, the AAT project has, since 2017, supported promoting Afghanistan’s regional trade with the selected neighbouring countries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The initiative regularly brings together key government and business stakeholders drawn from both countries to deliberate on how to tackle specific obstacles to trading, exploit opportunities and create business linkages. Overall, the initiative supports Afghan aspirations for fostering regional trade integration and connectivity.

The first consultation with Uzbekistan took place in Tashkent on 20 June 2018. This was followed up by a consultation meeting in Kabul between an Afghan and Uzbek delegation, which took place from 8 to 9 July 2018 in Kabul and resulted in signature of an agreed minutes. The outcome of the PPD was an Official Minutes flagging the key decisions made during the meeting critical trade restrictive issues.

Following the PPDs, an issue monitoring table was produced and shared by the ITC with MoIC in order to map out the progress made on each and every decision reflected in the Minutes In view of the second PPD to be organized in July 2019, a number of bilateral preparatory missions organized by MoIC to Uzbekistan took place. The EU funded PPD was framed within an overall multi-day program designed by GoIRA and financially supported by CLDP.

It was jointly agreed to hold the second PPD on July 15-16 in Tashkent with a view to:

- Take stock of progress made on issues following the first stakeholder consultation;

- Solicit business and government views regarding stumbling blocks and enablers for growing cross-border trade. Key topics discussed will include, trade and transit; TIR implementation; Trilateral Transit Agreement (Afghanistan – Uzbekistan – Kazakhstan); transport infrastructure projects; procurement; banking relations, amongst others;

- Agree upon recommendations aimed at promoting trading opportunities and have the agreed minutes bilaterally signed by the two countries’ Ministers of Commerce/Foreign Trade.

Results Stakeholders from the public and private sectors of the two countries brought together to discuss subjects of mutual interest in the area of trade and transit and discuss key priorities that address challenges that hamper bilateral trade and transit.

Advisory services provided to MoIC to finalise the ANTP after Cabinet approval

October 2019 – February 2020 Kabul

ANTP was finalised and launched for the public and private sector stakeholders.

N/A

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An agreement was signed to further the cause of strengthening bilateral trade and transit relations and common ground found on a number of areas. These include: systematic implementation of the MFN status granted to Afghan product, promotion of Afghan products in Uzbekistan, reduction of transit fees and costs, agreement by the Uzbek side on further studying the trilateral transit agreement between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, discussions and agreement on extending the scope of cooperation to investment promotion, procurement and also support by Afghanistan to Uzbekistan’s WTO accession process. MoIC was provided with the platform to address challenges that still existed after the first PPD and private sector was provided with the opportunity to inform the negotiation positions of MoIC.

Stakeholder/ participant information

Over 30 participants from both sides attended this event. Afghan delegation included representatives from: MoIC, Office of Chief Advisor to the President on Infrastructure Affairs, Ministry of Transport, MAIL, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ACD, Afghanistan Railway Authority, National Procurement Authority, Central Bank, Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority, ACCI, AWCCI, and ACIM.

Supporting documents Meeting report; Official minutes; Press release; media report

Contributing to indicator Number of public-private dialogues/trainings held: 2 Number of recommendations stemming from PPD: 17

Title Consultative meeting with Afghan business representatives Location/date 16 July 2019, Tashkent Implementing partners Organized by MoIC, with the support of AAT

Background/ context On the side-lines of the second PPD event in Tashkent, MoIC requested AAT to organise a meeting between Minister Ahmady and Afghan business representatives. The aim of the meeting was to explore challenges and opportunities in trade and investment spheres from the private sector perspective and inform the business community of the new direction and priorities of MoIC.. In addition, another objective of the meeting to seek the traders’ view any other existing challenges that were not raised during the main PPD event earlier in the day. The vision of MoIC was explained to the traders across three areas 1) export promotion, 2) supporting the industrial sector and 3) favourable business environment and the key achievements were highlighted and traders were informed as to what it meant for them. Traders, on the other hand, highlighted challenges that they are faced with and made specific requests to MoIC.

Results Agreed to enhance efforts at finding markets for Afghan marble as requested by exporters. Afghan commercial attache’ was instructed to diligently work on this issue. The decision to inform Afghan businessmen based in Tashkent of the existing and potential business opportunities in Afghanistan in a regular basis.

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Agreed to establish Afghan Business Chamber in Tashkent in a joint effort by ACCI and MoIC.. MoIC was provided with the platform to hear about the problems of the traders. The private sector was able to address challenges and recommend solutions in the areas of trade and investment.

Participant information 36 (Including major traders and ACCI)

Supporting documents Participants list, summary of minutes

Contributing to indicator Private dialogues/trainings held: 1

Number of recommendations stemming from PPD: 3

Title ANTP launch and private sector sensitisation Location/date 11 February 2020, Kabul Implementing partners Organized by MoIC, with the support of ITC

Background/ context ANTP is deemed as a first policy document that holistically addresses issues related to trade. The policy document was developed under the leadership of MoIC and with financial support of the EU and technical support of the AAT project. Prior to the launch, the ANTP policy document has undertaken several rounds of drafting and internal reviews by MoIC and ITC, as well as received further inputs from private sector associations, local and international experts.

Before the official launch, the policy document had been discussed at the PriSEC meeting, Council of Ministers and was finally endorsed by the Cabinet chaired by President Ghani on 9 October 2019.

Upon the request of MoIC it was considered necessary to sensitise the private sector and other stakeholders on the ANTP on the launch of the implementation phase of the ANTP.

Results Public and private stakeholders brought together to learn about the endorsement and official launch of the ANTP and what it meant for the private sector to implement this project.

ANTP was officially handed over the MoIC and the Afghan private sector for implementation.

MoIC was provided with a platform to talk about the business environment, impact of ANTP for enhancing exports and trade and the next steps.

Private sector included ACCI and AWCCI were provided a platform to address key challenges that businesspeople face and also commit their support to the implementation of the policy document.

Participant information 79 (Including traders, chamber representatives, industry leaders and government representatives)

Supporting documents Participants list, press release

Contributing to indicator Number of public private dialogues, trainings held: 1

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Title Advisory services provided to MoIC to finalise the ANTP after Cabinet approval

Date/Location October 2019 – February 2020, Kabul

Implementing partners MoIC Background/context ANTP is deemed as a first policy document that holistically addresses

issues related to trade. The policy document was developed under the leadership of MoIC and with financial support of the EU and technical support of the AAT project. Prior to the launch, the ANTP policy document has undertaken several rounds of drafting and internal reviews by MoIC and ITC, as well as received further inputs from private sector associations, local and international experts.

The policy document had been discussed at the PriSEC meeting, Council of Ministers and was finally endorsed by the Cabinet chaired by President Ghani on October 9, 2019. The Cabinet meeting came up with a set of recommendations to align the document with the priorities of the government and in line with the new objectives of the Ministry.

After this date, AAT worked with MoIC to address these recommendations throughout the document including the results framework. These included updating statistics, renaming institutions, reviewing recommendations and amending the results framework to ensure these are all aligned with the new priorities and structure of the Ministry and the Government.

As a next step, AAT worked with designers and editors to implement these changes and produce a final print that was eventually launched.

Results ANTP was finalised and launched for the public and private sector stakeholders.

Supporting documents ANTP final document

DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED AND MEASURES TAKEN Overall Uncertainties in the security situation The uncertain political situation and unprecedented security incidents have posed a serious challenge to project implementation over the last year. This meant that the local office had to take alternative measures (as advised by UNDSS) to ensure project implementation went smoothly. A primary example was the declaration of White Alert State by UNDSS when a UNDP vehicle was targeted on 24 November, 2019, and which, unfortunately, resulted in one UNSMS international fatality. The white alert remained in place for several weeks and it was then downgraded to Grey Alert. Considering that AAT activities are PC3, certain restrictions and movements outside UNOCA were still restricted for AAT activities even when the alert was downgraded to Grey. This period lasted from 24 Nov 2019 until 3 Feb 2020. After 3 February 2019, UNDSS revised the security risk management (SRMs) for Kabul that requires UN staff members to adhere to additional measures i.e. movement restrictions window, use of two AVs and requirement for an additional layer of approval. The movement restriction window, which is still effective, has particularly constrained AAT activities and has warranted additional planning and coordination. Likewise, mandatory use of two AVs has resulted in increased operations costs for the project. Nevertheless, in order to minimize risk and ensure staff safety, the AAT project team has fully implemented UNDSS advises and mitigation measures and no activities were implemented during the White and Grey Alert states.

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To rectify this, and to ensure continued engagement with the stakeholders/ avoid a lapse in project implementation, AAT team utilized alternative modalities of work that included VTCs, telecom and increased email communications. Outbreak of COVID-19: The outbreak of COVID-19 virus impacted AAT activity across multiple layers during the last month of the implementation phase. On 10 March, 2020, MoIC, the main counterpart, banned all meetings at the Ministry and restricted face to face meetings, Furthermore, UNDP Afghanistan suspended all face to face meetings from 15 March 2020 until further notice and advised against any activity. These two precautionary measures impacted the following activities: 1) the final PSC meeting, 2) training at ANSA on the recently procured metrology equipment, 3) inauguration of the WTO Resource Centre at Kabul University, 4) ITC expert mission for designing BVP for Afghanistan which had to be curt short on March 17, and 5) cancellation of a joint export themed PPD with HARAKAT which was planned for March 30, 2020. Nevertheless, remedial actions were taken to offset the impacts of these constraints on AAT activity. For instance, as suggested by the EUD, it was agreed that there would be a joint AAT1/AAT2 PSC once AAT2 recommenced, and the BVP mission was remodelled to ensure the remaining meetings and interviews were conducted via VTC and remotely, etc. In short, the unprecedented outbreak of Coronavirus was poised to disrupt AAT activity in a time of high delivery as the project was gearing towards closure. Alternative modalities and remedial actions have been suggested to ensure project outputs are delivered before the project closes.

Unforeseen halting of delivery Under “Addendum 4 to Delegation Agreement No ACA/2016/376-500”, the AAT project was extended from 12 August 2019 until 31 January 2020. ITC could not proceed with project implementation until Addendum 4 was cleared. Therefore, no project implementation occurred between the dates 13 August and late October 2019, when it was clear both ITC and EUD were in agreement with the details of Addendum 4. This period has delayed the delivery of activities. Recent changeover of the MoIC government officials In the third and fourth quarters of 2019, there was a high turnover of MoIC government officials, many of whom were acting as key counterparts for the implementation of AAT project activities. Unfortunately, during this changeover period there was not a sufficient level of transfer of know-how of the AAT project to the new officials, meaning implementation was halted in many activities where MoIC decision-making/direction was required. As MoIC is the main local counterpart for the implementation of the AAT project, this occurrence affected its timely implementation.

To rectify this situation, the AAT project team held regular meetings with new officials to orientate them about the project and inputs required. Additionally in “Monthly reports to the Minister” stumbling blocks to implementation were made clear and suggested actions required from local stakeholders mentioned. These monthly reports turned out to be a systematic mechanism of informing all new MoIC staff and ensured an effective follow-up mechanism. Output 3.2 Some delays were experienced due to difficulties in agreeing upon a final period work plan. However, this was eventually resolved and a Buy-Afghanistan marketing campaign was prioritized to undertake under AAT Phase I, with other suggested activities prioritized for AAT Phase II. Output 3.3 One major challenge in accessing finance for SMEs AAT is supporting through ANSGU was that they consistently requested to obtain non-interest Islamic finance. Interest-based financing is incompatible with the current banking system is Afghanistan. Some of ANSGU’s SMEs have cultural beliefs that go against interest-based lending. Only a few financing institutions such as the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) that are based in Herat provide such acceptable lending. AAT thus connected the SMEs with ADF by inviting them at workshops to present their financial products and services. Output 3.4

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Under sub-output 3.4, difficulties were encountered by SEEN in reporting tasks against the activities that were described on the grant MoU (with ITC) and completion of some pending activities. This was mainly due to the fact that SEEN had some issues in finding the adequate profile to be CEO of the organisation and some founding members being entrepreneurs, couldn’t dedicate the necessary time to support SEEN’s growth. Output 5 Under Output 5, the long-term ten-year Trade Facilitation Agreement implementation plan is still pending HEC’s approval, thereby postponing the official endorsement of this plan as well as the notification process of implementation deadlines to WTO TF Committee in contravention with provision of the WTO TFA. While insisting on the importance to comply with all notification deadlines, AAT’s trade facilitation experts advised counterparts to use the tools available in the agreement to postpone notification deadlines. Output 6 Under Output 6, the most important difficulties encountered in the implementation of this output was in the development of the National Trade Facilitation Portal which was difficult for some time because of the lack of cooperation of some border regulatory agencies which had to contribute to the platform to provide information. AAT reported this issue through the monthly report to Minister who facilitated the collect of information and facilitated the development of the portal. Another important difficulty was also encountered in relation to financial and reporting tasks against the activities that were described on the grant MoU with ACCI to deliver workshops due to the lack of responsiveness. This was mainly due to the fact that the activities were less of a priority for this institution in the context of the ongoing presidential election. Output 7 Under Output 7, there were a number of external challenges which affected the delivery of this output, some of which were addressed with appropriate measures taken. One of the difficulties was of the delay in the endorsement of the National Trade Policy which required Cabinet approval. After some months of delay due to the Cabinet’s preoccupation with other matters, the project team proactively engaged through multiple platforms such as the PriSEC, Council of Ministers and in-person meetings with Minister of Industry and Commerce to push this forward. Eventually, the ANTP was endorsed by the Cabinet on 9 October, 2020 and officially launched in 11 February, 2020. Another important difficulty faced was regarding the second PPD with Kazakhstan. There was an initial delay in restoring the communication channel due to changes at MOIC leadership. Then, due to the political and security situation in Afghanistan, the Kazakh side hesitated to confirm a date to send a team to Afghanistan for this PPD. In spite of several follow-ups through official channels, and also ITC’s meeting with a Kazakh delegation at the SPECA economic forum in November 2019, the Kazakh side did not respond back. It was later decided to send a smaller team to negotiate the text of the trilateral transit agreement with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but, unfortunately, the Coronavirus pandemic restricted travel to Central Asian countries in early March.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VISIBILITY AND COMMUNICATION PLAN

Information below is reported on the basis of the Project Communication and Visibility Plan. It is to be noted that, under all Outputs, reports, training materials, presentations, event agendas, etc. have been formatted in line with the project visual templates, as validated by the EU Delegation, for dissemination to government officials, the private sector, the media, development partners and other stakeholders. a. Project visibility during the period under reporting AAT Website Project website is being updated on a regular basis to cover:

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• Latest news • Outputs activities • Newsletters • Workshop / Trainings / Conferences reports/ articles • Publications • Pictures • Links to further national and regional stakeholders • Films and interviews • AAT Facebook Group Films produced The following films/Interviews with counterparts on Afghanistan National Trade Policy 2019 – 2023 (ANTP) were produced: • Short story about development and significance of ANTP • Mr. Abdul Karim Malikyar, Acting Deputy Minister for Trade at Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) • Ms. Manizha Wafeq, CEO of Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI).

Films/Interviews on ISO 22 0000 and ISO 19011 under Output 3 Short story 3 videos: • Interview with ANSA representative Arsalah • Interview with Private sector representative Mumtaz • Interview with the trainer Elyas Rastagar KIA Campaign for the New Export Procedures through television and billboard campaign In collaboration with PriSEC and ACCI, AAT financed the campaign for the new export procedure: • The animations were broadcast in both Dari and Pashto via two TV channels, Tolo and Lemar, on 8

consecutive days between December 21st and 28th, 2019 during the peak time window. According to representatives from Moby Group (owner of Tolo and Lamar television stations), their average reach across all their platforms during peak time is between 15 and 20 million people19.

• 37 billboards were installed in 4 big cities (Kabul, Mazar, Jalalabad and Herat) to promote the new export procedure. The billboards were displayed for 30 days.

Advancing Afghan Trade - quarterly newsletter During the reporting period, an additional 2 issues were circulated (September, 2019; December 2019), with its main purpose being to introduce the project, its main outputs and some of the activities completed to date.

In total there are 4500 recipients of the newsletter (Including membership of ACCI, AWCCI, AAT contact list and further sharing with MoIC, MAIL, ANSA and EPD).

Press Coverage The project continued to gain major media attention both within Afghanistan, the region and abroad. A total of 111 separate media articles were published during the period.

19 According to this figure, the TV spots aired for 8 days under this project may have reached a similar number of viewers (15 million). Though a separate M&E impact assessment should be done to ascertain if the TV advertisement successfully reached and increased the awareness of the target group of traders, with a cited average reach of 15 million people across Afghanistan, The chances that many individuals within the target group were among those reached is high.

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Social media - Facebook group Developed and operating since May 12, 2017. Currently, there are 392 contacts, with many of them being stakeholders drawn from business associations, government and exporters. Many of them have been involved in our project implementation activities are so well informed on its projects purpose. The group is administered by AAT and posts regular updates in regards to project implementation as well as profiling relevant initiatives, reports completed from other organization in Afghanistan and region. The group allows for professional networking, awareness raising and sharing of information. Events and work done by AAT have been appreciated and spread multiple times on the social media profiles of prominent individuals and organizations in the project such as EUD, MoIC, ACCI, AWCCI, ANSA. Certificates Produced and distributed after the trainings organized by the AAT, with logos of all parties, including the EU. Visibility templates In use for project banner; publications; PPT backdrop; notebook; brochures, etc. The templates show most favourable the project, implementing partners and present a common identity. AAT project brochure Widely distributed to the stakeholders at all major events and displayed on project website (versions in English, Dari and Pashtu). b. Progress vis-à-vis communication objectives

Tool Indicators

Press release 3 press releases/media advisories produced. Number of media using the press release: 18 different media companies published media regarding the project20

Project "newsletter"

Number of issues: 3 Number of subscribers: 4500 (Including membership of ACCI, AWCCI, AAT contact list and further sharing with MoIC, MAIL, ANSA and EPD).

Media channels Number of articles published: 111 press articles/releases published, TV and radio items produced about the project

Information material (leaflet, brochures)

Number of information material: 48

Including:

- Quarterly Snapshot Progress Reports (September, 2019; December 2019)

- Backdrop and roll up banners with EU, ITC and Counterparts’ logos were displayed during the following events in mentioned period:

o AAT 3rd PSC meeting;

20 Due to the Corona virus and limited operations of ITC, statistics were not able to be obtained on the number of views of press releases.

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o Inauguration ceremony of ANSA metrology and construction laboratories;

o Workshops of WTO-TFA Agreement, Delivered by ACCI; o Training on ISO/IEC 17025 at ANSA; o 37 billboards were installed in 4 big cities (Kabul, Mazar, Jalalabad

and Herat) to promote the new export procedure. The billboards were displayed for 30 days.

o Launching Ceremony of ANTP; o Metrology Awareness Workshop in Herat; o Metrology Awareness Workshop in Mazar; o ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 19011:2018 Workshops at ANSA. o Launch of WTO Reference Centre

Social media Twitter / LinkedIn / Facebook:

Twitter / Facebook: Number of posts: 50 Total reach: N/A Total engagement: N/A

Facebook group:

New followers (%): 15 Followers start: 342 Followers end: 392 Total engagement: N/A

Request for payment

The final financial report (together with the Final Project report) will be produced within the 6 months period following the end of the implementation phase as per Article 3.9 of the Delegation Agreement.

ANNEX I: MEDIA REPORT: 1 JULY 2019 – 31 MARCH 2020

PUBLIC – PRIVATE DIALOGUE (PPD) BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN 16 JULY 2019, TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN ITC:

• Website: Afghanistan and Uzbekistan step up efforts to strengthen trade relations http://bit.ly/2XKHuT0

• Twitter: “Facilitated by ITC, our implementing partner in the Advancing Afghan Trade project, this meeting marks an important milestone” https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1151138623212806144

• Twitter: We helped #Afghanistan strengthen trade links with its neighbours today at Public-Private

talks in #Uzbekistan. https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1151138497413038080

H.E. Ajmal Ahmady, MoIC Minister

http://bit.ly/2XKHuT0

https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1151138623212806144


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• Twitter:

(3) It was a great pleasure addressing 2nd session of the Afghan-Uzbek Public Private Dialogue (PPD): -Both sides have already communicated their MFN tariff rates -Both sides will soon conclude draft of “Intergovernmental Agreement on Air Services” https://twitter.com/aahmady/status/1151349345758978048 (1) Thanks to the Govt of Uzbekistan for the dynamic economic ties with AFG & warm welcome during my visit to Tashkent https://twitter.com/aahmady/status/1151330071283666944

MoIC Facebook:

• PPD and Business Forum: http://bit.ly/2GhBk21

ACCI Facebook:

• 2nd PPD between Afghanistan an Uzbekistan: http://bit.ly/2JLKAMT

AWCCI Facebook:

• http://bit.ly/2Gj4fmp

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

• PPD and Joint Commission Meeting http://bit.ly/2SkaF9E

National and International News Agencies:

• Outlook Afghanistan: Facilitating Trade between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan http://bit.ly/30Dcxgp

• MENAFN: Workshop Held To Facilitate Trade Between Afghanistan & Uzbekistan http://bit.ly/2Y9DeMa

• FARS News Agency

http://bit.ly/30EW7o2

• BAZTAB News: https://baztab.news/article/1090689

• Wadsam News:

http://bit.ly/2YW8wU9

• Pazhwak News: https://www.pajhwok.com/en/subscription-required?redirect_from=550083

E 2019 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2019JUNE 2019 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2019 ADVANCING AFGHAN TRADE PROJECT THIRD STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING 23 JULY 2019, MoIC, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

https://twitter.com/aahmady/status/1151349345758978048

https://twitter.com/aahmady/status/1151330071283666944

http://bit.ly/2GhBk21

http://bit.ly/2JLKAMT

http://bit.ly/2Gj4fmp

http://bit.ly/2SkaF9E

http://bit.ly/30Dcxgp

http://bit.ly/2Y9DeMa

http://bit.ly/30EW7o2

https://baztab.news/article/1090689

http://bit.ly/2YW8wU9

https://www.pajhwok.com/en/subscription-required?redirect_from=550083

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• EU Website:

Joint Press Release of the EU Delegation in Afghanistan and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce http://bit.ly/2SQOf00

• EU in Afghanistan Twitter:

EU announces continuation of support for years 2020-24 through phase 2 of ‘Advancing Afghan Trade’ project, funded by €12 million. It supports #Afghanistan to improve business environment for Afghan products to integrate regional & global value chains. http://bit.ly/2Kcljvd

• H.E. Pierre Mayaudon Twitter:

EU announces continuation of support for years 2020-24 through phase 2 of ‘Advancing Afghan Trade’ project, funded by €12 million. It supports #Afghanistan to improve business environment for Afghan products to integrate regional & global value chains. http://bit.ly/2Kcljvd MoIC Website: Joint Press Release of the EU Delegation in Afghanistan and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce http://bit.ly/2LJZV3W

• AfghanEconomics Facebook:

Co-chaired 3rd AFG Advancing Trade (AAT) steering committee with ambassador Mayaudon: - Happy to announce EU will fund Phase II of project for $12M - Achievements include National Export Strategy - Listened to recommendations from private sector - Project will support MoIC’s objective to reach $1.0 billion in exports this year http://bit.ly/2SASw7z

• TAPI Facebook:

Co-chaired 3rd AFG Advancing Trade (AAT) steering committee with ambassador Mayaudon: - Happy to announce EU will fund Phase II of project for $12M - Achievements include National Export Strategy - Listened to recommendations from private sector - Project will support MoIC’s objective to reach $1.0 billion in exports this year http://bit.ly/32P7Geb

• ACCI Website:

The third PSC meeting of Advancing Afghan Trade Project held. http://bit.ly/2Y1ErGk

• ACCI Facebook:

The third PSC meeting of Advancing Afghan Trade Project held. http://bit.ly/2SHslMv

• ToloNews:

EU Envoy Vows Support To Afghanistan’s Trade Development TV: http://bit.ly/311pBN6

http://bit.ly/2SQOf00

http://bit.ly/2Kcljvd

http://bit.ly/2Kcljvd

http://bit.ly/2LJZV3W

http://bit.ly/2SASw7z

http://bit.ly/32P7Geb

http://bit.ly/2Y1ErGk

http://bit.ly/2SHslMv

http://bit.ly/311pBN6

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Website: http://bit.ly/2K7q09T

• ITC Twitter:

The @EUinAfghanistan has announced €12 million in continued support for our Advancing Afghan Trade project for 2020-24 �� #AAT helps #Afghanistan to improve the environment for Afghan firms and link their products to regional and global value chains �� https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1155026478062587904

• ITC / AAT Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2345313715709606/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2345314345709543/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2345330045707973/

INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF METROLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORIES OF ANSA, 24 JULY 2019, ANSA, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

• ANSA Facebook and Website:

http://bit.ly/2YB1ozm

http://bit.ly/2K4hqd1

http://bit.ly/2K9eeM8 • ANSA / ToloNews Interview:

http://bit.ly/2GC8NEl

http://bit.ly/2SXeMZC

• ANSA / 1TV Interview:

http://bit.ly/2GCicMb

• ANSA / AriannaNews Interview:

http://bit.ly/2YgKnLJ

• ANSA FB:

http://bit.ly/2OucSAX

“The inauguration of this standards laboratory is an important step on the road for Afghanistan from a war economy to a peace economy. The European Union 🇪🇪🇪🇪 supports Afghanistan 🇦🇦🇦🇦 on every milestone on this vital journey.” Pierre Mayaudon European Union Ambassador in Afghanistan

• ITC Facebook:

http://bit.ly/2ylVBiu

http://bit.ly/2K7q09T


https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2345313715709606/



http://bit.ly/2YB1ozm

http://bit.ly/2K4hqd1

http://bit.ly/2K9eeM8

http://bit.ly/2GC8NEl

http://bit.ly/2SXeMZC

http://bit.ly/2GCicMb

http://bit.ly/2YgKnLJ

http://bit.ly/2OucSAX

http://bit.ly/2ylVBiu

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The Afghan National Standard Authority's new metrology laboratory was inaugurated today by European Union Ambassador to Afghanistan Pierre Mayaudon, ITC and Afghan government officials. The brand-new lab will provide accurate measurements that impact the economy, health and safety in the country. The science of measurement, critical for the social and economic development of Afghanistan, and the lab will help Afghan companies to trade more products by ensuring compliance with international standards. ITC’s Advancing Afghan Trade project, funded by the European Union, worked closely with local and international partners to help build this bridge to higher standards and bigger markets.

• ITC Twitter:

http://bit.ly/2K2Op1i Today’s inauguration of EU-funded metrology & construction materials laboratories of ANSA is a milestone towards turning Afghan economy from informal into formal, from illegal into legal. EU supports Afghanistan at every step of moving from a war economy to a peace economy.

http://bit.ly/2ZtUSrH “The inauguration of this standards laboratory is an important step on the road for #Afghanistan from a war economy to a peace economy. The European Union supports Afghanistan on every milestone on this vital journey.” Pierre Mayaudon @EUAmbAFG

http://bit.ly/2Zvj1ha “Thank you to the EU for their support to this initiative. This will certainly help to promote the exports and industrial production of Afghanistan.” Mohammad Humayoun Qayoumi Acting Minister of Finance and Senior Advisor to the President of #Afghanistan

http://bit.ly/2K9iACY “I sincerely thank ITC and EU for successfully completing the first phase of the Advancing Afghan Trade project and helping the Afghan National Standards Authority to support economic growth by developing a quality-standards infrastructure. “ Musa Alami ANSA Director-General

http://bit.ly/2K6xyuN Our EU-funded Advancing Afghan Trade project helps firms in #Afghanistan to build bridges to higher standards and bigger markets. We're thrilled the EU Ambassador helped Afghan officials open a brand-new metrology lab to uphold compliance. MORE: (link: https://bit.ly/2qNG2M8) bit.ly/2qNG2M8

http://bit.ly/2K2Op1i

http://bit.ly/2ZtUSrH

http://bit.ly/2Zvj1ha

http://bit.ly/2K9iACY

http://bit.ly/2K6xyuN

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• EU in Afghanistan Twitter:

http://bit.ly/2K2Op1i Today’s inauguration of EU-funded metrology & construction materials laboratories of ANSA is a milestone towards turning Afghan economy from informal into formal, from illegal into legal. EU supports Afghanistan at every step of moving from a war economy to a peace economy. http://bit.ly/2Zvj1ha “Thank you to the EU for their support to this initiative. This will certainly help to promote the exports and industrial production of Afghanistan.” Mohammad Humayoun Qayoumi Acting Minister of Finance and Senior Advisor to the President of #Afghanistan


Our EU-funded Advancing Afghan Trade project helps firms in #Afghanistan to build bridges to higher standards and bigger markets. We're thrilled the EU Ambassador helped Afghan officials open a brand-new metrology lab to uphold compliance. MORE: (link: https://bit.ly/2qNG2M8) bit.ly/2qNG2M8

• Ms. Arancha Gonzales Twitter:

http://bit.ly/2K6xyuN Our EU-funded Advancing Afghan Trade project helps firms in #Afghanistan to build bridges to higher standards and bigger markets. We're thrilled the EU Ambassador helped Afghan officials open a brand-new metrology lab to uphold compliance. MORE: (link: https://bit.ly/2qNG2M8) bit.ly/2qNG2M8

http://bit.ly/2ZtUSrH The inauguration of this standards laboratory is an important step on the road for #Afghanistan from a war economy to a peace economy. The European Union supports Afghanistan on every milestone on this vital journey. Pierre Mayaudon @EUAmbAFG

• TV Channels:

Arianna News: http://bit.ly/2K6v2Vn ToloNews: http://bit.ly/316vRTH

• News Agencies:

Pazhwak News: http://bit.ly/311a7IT

http://bit.ly/2K2Op1i

http://bit.ly/2Zvj1ha



http://bit.ly/2ZtUSrH

http://bit.ly/2K6v2Vn

http://bit.ly/316vRTH

http://bit.ly/311a7IT

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Sputnik News: http://bit.ly/2Yv9byW The daily Afghanistan Ma http://bit.ly/2Zj6BsM Baztab News: http://bit.ly/2MozPTr

Inter-Ministerial Committee Meeting on WTO-TFA Agreement

• MoIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoCIAfghanistan/posts/3158742830832360

Meeting of Professor Hamidullah Farooqi Chancellor of Kabul University and Advisor of Chief Minister in Higher Education Affairs of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; with Representative of (ITC) International Trade Center.

• Kabul University Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kabuluniversityafghanistan/posts/808872832840660

First Meeting on WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade Held at ANSA

• ANSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANSAAFG/posts/2402173700000023

First Senior Board Meeting of National Export Strategy (NES) Wednesday, 30 October 2019, MOIC

• MoIC Official Facebook Page

The first Senior Board meet of NES held at MoIC

http://bit.ly/34mWDsD

• Twitter of H.E. Minister Ahmady (Minister MoIC)

http://bit.ly/2pDA5VD

• AfghanEconomics

http://bit.ly/2NDFJyX

Afghan Government Endorses National Trade Policy

9 October 2019, Presidential Palace (ARG), Kabul, Afghanistan

Official Facebook Page of Presidential Palace (ARG):

http://bit.ly/2BvWGGc

Official Facebook Page of H.E. CEO Abdullah Abdullah

http://bit.ly/35PBMQ9

Website of Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan

http://bit.ly/2Yv9byW

http://bit.ly/2Zj6BsM

http://bit.ly/2MozPTr

https://www.facebook.com/MoCIAfghanistan/posts/3158742830832360

https://www.facebook.com/Kabuluniversityafghanistan/posts/808872832840660

https://www.facebook.com/ANSAAFG/posts/2402173700000023

http://bit.ly/34mWDsD

http://bit.ly/2pDA5VD

http://bit.ly/2NDFJyX

http://bit.ly/2BvWGGc

http://bit.ly/35PBMQ9

85

http://bit.ly/2pF6law

Website of International Trade Centre (ITC)

http://bit.ly/32CkGmQ

• ACCI Website:

http://bit.ly/2J5S4uj (English Press Release)

http://bit.ly/33PpqG0 (Dari Press Release)

Local Media / News:

Wadsam Afghan Business News Portal

http://bit.ly/31y9R3G

MENAFN

http://bit.ly/31zwEMy

Didpress

http://bit.ly/2oQ5jsu

Daily Outlook Afghanistan

http://bit.ly/32zCH5b

Pajhwak Afghan News

http://bit.ly/33RArXs

Training on ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, 18 – 19 November 2019, ANSA, Kabul

• ANSA Facebook

http://bit.ly/2LElKjH

The Acting CEO of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment met with ITC delegation on the second phase of EU funded Advancing Afghan Trade Project, 24 November 2019, ACCI, Kabul

• Official Facebook Page of ACCI

http://bit.ly/2PogFNi

ITC visits the Laboratory of Afghan Raisin, Fruits and Vegetable Export Promotion Administration (ARFVEPA), 23 November 2019, Kabul

• Facebook page of (ARFVEPA)

http://bit.ly/2RxHnWJ

http://bit.ly/2pF6law

http://bit.ly/32CkGmQ

http://bit.ly/2J5S4uj

http://bit.ly/33PpqG0

http://bit.ly/31y9R3G

http://bit.ly/31zwEMy

http://bit.ly/2oQ5jsu

http://bit.ly/32zCH5b

http://bit.ly/33RArXs

http://bit.ly/2LElKjH

http://bit.ly/2PogFNi

http://bit.ly/2RxHnWJ

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New Export Procedure Campaign, Supported by EU Funded AAT Project

• Pashto Ad: https://www.facebook.com/Prisec.gov.af/videos/443303446347273/

• Dari Ad: https://www.facebook.com/Prisec.gov.af/videos/737145853441928/

Lunching Ceremony of Afghanistan National Trade Policy 2019 – 2023

11 February 2020 at Kabul Star Hotel, Kabul, Afghanistan

• International Trade Centre (ITC): ITC Website (Press Release): http://www.intracen.org/Afghanistan-launches-National-Trade-Policy/ ITC Facebook: Interview with Mr. Abul Karim Malikyar (Acting Deputy Minister for Trade – MoIC) http://bit.ly/2u78SwO ITC Facebook: Afghanistan’s new National Trade Policy “includes, for the first time, removing barriers to trade for women-owned businesses” said Manizha Wafeq, head of Afghanistan Womens’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry http://bit.ly/37F182X AAT Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2522814411292868/ ITC Twitter (Press Release): https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1228231721855811586 ITC Twitter: What does the launch of #Afghanistan's new National Trade Policy mean for the country? We spoke to Abdul Malikyar, acting Deputy Minister for Trade 🇦🇦🇦🇦 https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1229472977760157700?s=20 ITC Twitter: Afghanistan’s new National Trade Policy “includes, for the first time, removing barriers to trade for #women-owned businesses” said Manizha Wafeq, head of #Afghanistan Womens’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry 🇦🇦🇦🇦 But what else did she say? WATCH📺📺https://youtu.be/B9jFIj-neDk https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1229812881409159170 ITC Twitter: ITC's acting Executive Director @tembo_dorothy was delighted to receive @MohammadHaqjo , Ambassador of #Afghanistan at the @wto for discussions. Afghanistan recently launched a new national trade policy with ITC support ➡ MORE INFO ➡https://bit.ly/3bPoOEY https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1229847057655107585

ITC Twitter: Afghanistan’s new National Trade Policy “includes, for the first time, removing barriers to trade for #women-owned businesses” said Manizha Wafeq, head of #Afghanistan Womens’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry 🇦🇦🇦🇦 But what else did she say?



http://www.intracen.org/Afghanistan-launches-National-Trade-Policy/

http://bit.ly/2u78SwO

http://bit.ly/37F182X



https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1229472977760157700?s=20



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WATCH📺📺 https://youtu.be/B9jFIj-neDk https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1230761582759596033?fbclid=IwAR1n_-Bf0fkgG2vczWHn2JvUfcZaSy61pbbTCJKDfwcOkcwJVGIBWl_Nt3Q

• Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC): MoIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoCIAfghanistan/posts/3689605007746137

• Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI): ACCI Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfghanChamber/posts/3009921345719144 ACCI Website: http://acci.org.af/da/component/content/article/38-news/1871-n.html

Paktia Chamber of Commerce and Investment http://bit.ly/2V5dgrs

• Minister Ahmady / MoIC Twitter: H.E. Ajmal Ahmady, Minister of MIoC

https://twitter.com/sameerrasa7/status/1227189138702598145 (retweeted)

Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) https://twitter.com/sameerrasa7/status/1227189138702598145 (retweeted)

• Mr. Mohammad Qurban Haqjbo, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the WTO Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohammadHaqjo/status/1229810344090050561

• TV Channels: Shamshad TV, 11 Feb 2020, 7 PM News

https://youtu.be/FGDIsYiOxQA?t=1280 (ANTP news from 21:30 – 24:40 minutes).

Arianna News, 11 Feb 2020, 8 PM News

https://youtu.be/NCoyQ5dJRdw?t=843 (ANTP news from 14:03 – 16:16 minutes)

Ms. Parwarish Oryakhail, Business Development Director of AWCC Interview with 1TV

https://youtu.be/Hir1Q7_-gS0?t=2629 (interview from 43:49 – 49:06)

• Other News Agencies / Social Media: Baztab News: https://baztab.news/article/1267433 Wadsam – Afghan Business News Portal: https://wadsam.com/afghan-business-news/afghanistan-launches-national-trade-policy/ Afghanistan Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Traders Union

https://youtu.be/B9jFIj-neDk

https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1230761582759596033?fbclid=IwAR1n_-Bf0fkgG2vczWHn2JvUfcZaSy61pbbTCJKDfwcOkcwJVGIBWl_Nt3Q

https://twitter.com/ITCnews/status/1230761582759596033?fbclid=IwAR1n_-Bf0fkgG2vczWHn2JvUfcZaSy61pbbTCJKDfwcOkcwJVGIBWl_Nt3Q


https://www.facebook.com/AfghanChamber/posts/3009921345719144

http://acci.org.af/da/component/content/article/38-news/1871-n.html

http://bit.ly/2V5dgrs

https://twitter.com/sameerrasa7/status/1227189138702598145

https://twitter.com/sameerrasa7/status/1227189138702598145

https://twitter.com/MohammadHaqjo/status/1229810344090050561

https://youtu.be/FGDIsYiOxQA?t=1280

https://youtu.be/NCoyQ5dJRdw?t=843

https://youtu.be/Hir1Q7_-gS0?t=2629

https://baztab.news/article/1267433

https://wadsam.com/afghan-business-news/afghanistan-launches-national-trade-policy/

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https://www.facebook.com/Afghanistanfruitvegtradersunion/posts/3407069395986959

METROLOGY AWARENESS WORKSHOP IN HERAT, 16 Feb 2020, Herat, Afghanistan

• AAT Facebook: http://bit.ly/3bXLL99

METROLOGY AWARENESS WORKSHOP IN Mazar-e-Sharif, 19 Feb 2020, Herat, Afghanistan

• AAT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2528946610679648/

SECOND NES SENIOR BOARD MEETING HELD AT MoIC, 19 FEB AT MoIC

• MOIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoCIAfghanistan/posts/3722647824441855

ISO 22000:2018 AND ISO 19011:2018 WORKSHOPS AT ANSA 23 FEB – 08 MARCH, 2020

• ANSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANSAAFG/posts/2635982453285812

• ITC website: TBC

8TH NATIONAL TRADE FACILITATION COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT MoIC, 23 FEB 2020

• MOIC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoCIAfghanistan/posts/3729619930411311

OPENING CEREMONY OF WTO RESOURCES CENTER AT KABUL UNIVERSITY

• Official Facebook of KU: https://www.facebook.com/Kabuluniversityafghanistan/posts/1003046430089965?__cft__[0]=AZUlK8q4RWKbDSffUGCJwPpBH4qRSivrpVtd_4nh1xyG8TB73-uIWSfG7jjP2AwDj8YiB33j08aXDZQQqXzFRgjsH0W9DskbtdUT4MwbYg7d8Lc0VpL3tw-GFH_87lYR0ACH9ukIuH47aOFScQ-Qo078EkpQyhUYYSLn0l_U3huKqQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

• Website of KU:

Pashto: http://ku.edu.af/ps/news/76007?fbclid=IwAR3-8uAOoIfKqEzbpv1fnsRVa44A7hYjXQgxaj4SdAOAcWlS_eyt6gndV9E

Dari: http://ku.edu.af/fa/news/76007?fbclid=IwAR1KyDFLChUKEspzMM_QIkng_3-OqQgCFtSqMi5hCcro7umKmBcNtY-54k8

• Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Mr. Amir Hamza Aslami (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1309394419246502&id=100005278693606&__cft__[0]=AZW5njJREttjl0bApUabQXZyO20B_ldbgfa2yRi12LbgVqXq8KyX9YImi38vS1A8r67jS09JOQqHGgkboHgwlSqkidSYjJ_M0UVLkFiTHrQIins1mcM4AsTV2u9xvHHetdc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

• Advancing Afghan Trade Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/Afghanistanfruitvegtradersunion/posts/3407069395986959

http://bit.ly/3bXLL99



https://www.facebook.com/ANSAAFG/posts/2635982453285812


https://www.facebook.com/Kabuluniversityafghanistan/posts/1003046430089965?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUlK8q4RWKbDSffUGCJwPpBH4qRSivrpVtd_4nh1xyG8TB73-uIWSfG7jjP2AwDj8YiB33j08aXDZQQqXzFRgjsH0W9DskbtdUT4MwbYg7d8Lc0VpL3tw-GFH_87lYR0ACH9ukIuH47aOFScQ-Qo078EkpQyhUYYSLn0l_U3huKqQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R




http://ku.edu.af/ps/news/76007?fbclid=IwAR3-8uAOoIfKqEzbpv1fnsRVa44A7hYjXQgxaj4SdAOAcWlS_eyt6gndV9E

http://ku.edu.af/ps/news/76007?fbclid=IwAR3-8uAOoIfKqEzbpv1fnsRVa44A7hYjXQgxaj4SdAOAcWlS_eyt6gndV9E

http://ku.edu.af/fa/news/76007?fbclid=IwAR1KyDFLChUKEspzMM_QIkng_3-OqQgCFtSqMi5hCcro7umKmBcNtY-54k8

http://ku.edu.af/fa/news/76007?fbclid=IwAR1KyDFLChUKEspzMM_QIkng_3-OqQgCFtSqMi5hCcro7umKmBcNtY-54k8

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1309394419246502&id=100005278693606&__cft__%5b0%5d=AZW5njJREttjl0bApUabQXZyO20B_ldbgfa2yRi12LbgVqXq8KyX9YImi38vS1A8r67jS09JOQqHGgkboHgwlSqkidSYjJ_M0UVLkFiTHrQIins1mcM4AsTV2u9xvHHetdc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R



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https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2556268934614082/?__cft__[0]=AZUbIYLn1Z9UVlO3vzFsyR3oF1R45RiU4_duEWORdtMsPoh65NHK0oBKnmV_oGLfCkWFPv5Cn_vYQtXeCqTmzugQqBbdDaAT0-a4zAgYxrnL5BCWk1I5D-GUgFbesOGP2nd2VWOIjtlSLJeP9JoFOgACDsRvPiFPfJ_h3i_pyUi_Io1f3vQAm16wG-2R0tanRGINukfHUa12O2j4y1AcFqU5oWPI4V39q6VTDWRtx_FftQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

• ITC Website: http://www.intracen.org/news/Story-World-Trade-Organization-resource-centre-opens-in-Afghanistan/

INTERVIEW OF H.E. MR PIERRE MAUYADON, THE EU AMBASSADOR IN AFGHANISTAN – APRIL 2020

• Business DNA Magazine – Issue April 2020 (p. 16 to 20) https://view.joomag.com/business-dna-specials-issue-09-apr-2020/0316697001588049873?short

https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdvancingAfghanTrade/permalink/2556268934614082/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZUbIYLn1Z9UVlO3vzFsyR3oF1R45RiU4_duEWORdtMsPoh65NHK0oBKnmV_oGLfCkWFPv5Cn_vYQtXeCqTmzugQqBbdDaAT0-a4zAgYxrnL5BCWk1I5D-GUgFbesOGP2nd2VWOIjtlSLJeP9JoFOgACDsRvPiFPfJ_h3i_pyUi_Io1f3vQAm16wG-2R0tanRGINukfHUa12O2j4y1AcFqU5oWPI4V39q6VTDWRtx_FftQ&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R





http://www.intracen.org/news/Story-World-Trade-Organization-resource-centre-opens-in-Afghanistan/

http://www.intracen.org/news/Story-World-Trade-Organization-resource-centre-opens-in-Afghanistan/

https://view.joomag.com/business-dna-specials-issue-09-apr-2020/0316697001588049873?short

· aat advancing afghan trade acci afghanistan chamber of commerce and investment acd afghanistan...

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